India's Strategic Autonomy Amid Venezuela's Turmoil
India's approach to Venezuela's crisis demands diplomatic maturity, prioritizing national interests over impulses. Key concerns include the safety of 80 Indian citizens and significant energy security stakes, given Venezuela's vast oil reserves and India's past investments and import needs. Historically, external interventions have led to instability, urging caution. India must adopt strategic autonomy, engaging all parties, safeguarding energy interests, and upholding international law without succumbing to external pressures or hasty actions, ensuring independent judgment.
The article argues that India's response to Venezuela's political and economic turmoil must be guided by strategic national interests, not emotional impulses. It highlights three primary concerns for New Delhi: first, the safety of approximately 80 Indian citizens and persons of Indian origin residing in Venezuela, for whom evacuation contingencies must be prepared. Second, energy security is critical; India, a major oil importer, has significant past trade ties with Venezuela (before US sanctions) and ONGC Videsh holds a $1 billion investment in its oil fields. Venezuela's 20% share of global oil reserves makes it a crucial, albeit currently dormant, energy player. Third, the article warns against the historical pattern of external regime change operations, citing eight instances where US interventions often led to prolonged instability and humanitarian crises.India is advised to follow its diplomatic playbook from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, emphasizing strategic autonomy. This involves engaging all stakeholders, protecting its energy investments, and advocating for dialogue and international law. New Delhi must avoid hasty endorsements or inflammatory rhetoric that could compromise its flexible stance. The piece underscores the importance of maintaining independent judgment, even while fostering strong partnerships like that with the US, ensuring its credibility as a rising global power. A cautious, wait-and-watch approach is deemed wise, preserving future cooperation possibilities and preventing entanglement in unpredictable conflicts, ultimately steering India's own ship through global storms.
