In a startling comparison that has ignited a political debate, senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has drawn a direct link between the escalating trade war with the United States and the recent CIA-led capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, questioning whether such an action could be contemplated against Indian leadership.
A Provocative Question on Sovereignty
Speaking in an interview with IANS on Friday, Chavan posed a sharp rhetorical question: "Will Trump kidnap our Prime Minister?" He expressed grave concern over the precedent set by the operation in Venezuela, calling it a violation of the UN Charter. "An elected president has been kidnapped. It's a very grave concern that it could happen to any other country tomorrow. Tomorrow it can happen to India," Chavan stated.
He criticized the Indian government's muted response to the Venezuela incident, contrasting it with the clear positions taken by Russia and China. Chavan linked this perceived silence to a pattern of non-alignment on critical global issues, including the Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict, suggesting it stems from being "so scared of Americans."
The Trigger: Soaring Tariffs and Diversification Efforts
Chavan's alarming query is rooted in the concrete economic pressure India faces from the United States. The context is the 50 percent tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump on Indian goods in August 2025, a punitive measure directly tied to Washington's disapproval of New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian crude oil amid the Ukraine war.
"With a 50 percent tariff, trade is simply not possible. In effect, this amounts to blocking India–US trade, especially exports from India to the United States," Chavan explained. He acknowledged that the central government is actively working to diversify export markets to cushion the blow for affected exporters, as the profits from US-bound trade have sharply declined.
Trump's Direct Warning and India's Diplomatic Stance
Adding fuel to the fire, President Trump issued a fresh warning to India on Monday, explicitly connecting trade penalties to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. "We could raise tariffs on India if they don't have help on Russian oil issue," Trump was quoted as saying by Reuters. He noted that while he considered Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "very good man," the trade relationship was contingent on making him "happy."
In response to the Venezuela crisis, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released a statement on Sunday, reiterating India's focus on the safety of Venezuelan people. "Recent developments in Venezuela are a matter of deep concern. We are closely monitoring the evolving situation," the MEA said, without directly condemning the US action.
The convergence of these events—a dramatic geopolitical intervention, severe economic sanctions, and a direct presidential warning—frames Chavan's controversial remarks. They highlight the intense pressure on India's foreign policy and trade strategy as it navigates its relationships with major global powers amidst ongoing conflicts.
