India's first reaction after US op in Venezuela: An advisory to citizens

There was no formal response from the Indian government on the developments in Venezuela.

Updated on: Jan 4, 2026, 08:15:21 IST

By Rezaul H Laskar

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India on Saturday urged its nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to Venezuela after US troops captured the South American country's President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and took them to the US following a military assault on Caracas.

"All Indians who are in Venezuela for any reason are advised to exercise extreme caution," the MEA advisory read. (Representational Photo/Pexels)

American forces launched an operation to capture Maduro after months of tension with the US, which accused the president of being involved in drug trafficking. Maduro denied the accusations. The US also carried out more than 20 air strikes in waters near Venezuela since September.

Track live updates on US attack on Venezuela here.

“In view of recent developments in Venezuela, Indian nationals are strongly advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Venezuela,” the external affairs ministry said in an advisory late on Saturday.

Also read: In 1st pic since capture, Maduro seen blindfolded in track suit aboard US warship

All Indians currently in Venezuela were advised to “exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements, and remain in contact” with the Indian embassy in Caracas through the email ID cons.caracas@mea.gov.in or the emergency phone number +58-412-9584288.

There was no formal response from the Indian government on the developments in Venezuela.

Also read: What happens to Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro after US ‘capture’? Panama parallel from exactly 36 years ago holds clues

According to the website of the Indian embassy, there are around 50 non-resident Indians and 30 people of Indian-origin in Venezuela.

Venezuela declared a national emergency after the US assault, and the government denounced what it said was an "extremely serious military aggression”.

After being brought to the US, Maduro was indicted in New York on drugs and weapons charges.

President Donald Trump told a news conference that the US will run Venezuela until a “safe transition”. The US will also be “very strongly involved” in Venezuela’s oil industry, Trump said.

The aim of the US assault was to bring “dictator Maduro to justice”, Trump claimed.

The US leader's critics have said Washington acted with an eye on Venezuela’s massive oil reserves of 303 billion barrels, about a fifth of global reserves.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rezaul H Laskar
Rezaul Hasan Laskar is Foreign Editor with the Hindustan Times, which he joined in 2015. He began as a journalist in his hometown of Shillong in northeast India and has worked in newspapers and wire services over the years. He moved to New Delhi in 1997 and initially focused on defence, national security, Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast, while also working of foreign policy and international relations. He has been part of the media delegation accompanying PMs on foreign visits and has reported from destinations ranging from Tibet to Ukraine. Between 2007 and 2013, he was the Press Trust of India correspondent in Pakistan, one of only two Indian journalists allowed to report from the country. He extensively covered Pakistan’s domestic politics and the life of the common people, as well as the fallout of the 2008 Mumbai attacks on India-Pakistan relations and the subsequent trial in Pakistan of the suspects involved in the attack. As part of his reportage in Pakistan, he travelled the breadth of the country, from the Swat Valley to Balochistan. Reza’s first gig in journalism was writing a weekly music column, and music – especially classic rock – remains a keen interest. He is also a movie buff and a keen photographer.Read More

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