The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a critical advisory on Saturday, strongly urging all Indian citizens to avoid any non-essential travel to Venezuela. This urgent warning follows dramatic military strikes by the United States in the capital, Caracas, which led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
Details of the Official Travel Advisory
The advisory explicitly states, "In view of recent developments in Venezuela, Indian nationals are strongly advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Venezuela." For those already in the country, the MEA has instructed them to "exercise extreme caution" and restrict their movements as much as possible.
The Indian government has provided specific contact details for its embassy in Caracas. Indian citizens in Venezuela are advised to stay in touch via email at cons.caracas@mea.gov.in or through the emergency phone number +58-412-9584288. This number can also be used for making WhatsApp calls in case of an emergency.
US Operation and Charges Against Maduro
The advisory was prompted by a swift military operation. According to reports from the Associated Press, Maduro and his wife were taken from their residence on a military base overnight and are now aboard a US warship heading to New York to face criminal charges.
Former US President Donald Trump announced the operation on Truth Social, stating it was conducted alongside US law enforcement. US Attorney General Pamela Bondi confirmed on X that new indictments have been issued against the couple.
Nicolas Maduro faces serious charges including Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, and weapons-related conspiracies. Bondi asserted that they will soon "face the full wrath of American justice on American soil."
Reactions and Analysis of the Situation
The development, while sudden, did not come as a complete surprise to seasoned observers. Former Indian envoys to Venezuela, R. Viswanathan and Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha, described the US move as expected. They pointed out that the United States has consistently worked against Maduro's regime for years.
The military action itself involved explosions in Caracas, with low-flying aircraft reported over the city. At least seven blasts targeted military infrastructure during the attack, which lasted less than half an hour. Smoke was seen rising from a hangar at a Caracas military base.
This strike culminates months of increasing pressure from the Trump administration, which had recently intensified its naval presence near South America. The US has also conducted strikes on suspected drug smuggling vessels in the region since early September.
