New Delhi: India's first reaction after US op in Venezuela: An advisory to citizens
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.
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.
“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.
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