In a provocative statement that has ignited a political debate, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has drawn a direct parallel between recent aggressive US trade actions against India and the controversial capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, suggesting such interventions could one day target New Delhi.
Drawing a Controversial Parallel
The remarks, made on January 6, 2026, connect two significant international pressure points for India. Chavan pointed to former US President Donald Trump's threat of 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods, which he claims has rendered India-US trade unviable and severely hurt Indian exporters. He characterized this not as mere trade policy but as an indirect trade blockade by Washington.
Chavan then linked this economic pressure to the reported CIA-led operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. He posed a stark question: could similar actions of external intervention be contemplated against India in the future? His warning hinges on the argument that the Venezuela incident, which he says violates the UN Charter, sets a dangerous and troubling precedent for global sovereignty.
Context of Mounting US Pressure
Chavan's comments come at a time of heightened tension. Trump has repeatedly warned India of even higher tariffs if it does not fall in line with Western demands to curtail purchases of Russian oil, explicitly tying trade pressure to the ongoing Ukraine war. This places New Delhi in a delicate diplomatic position, balancing its long-standing strategic autonomy with intense economic coercion from a major partner.
The former CM accused the Indian government of maintaining a fearful silence on the Venezuela issue, implying it is intimidated by US power. He argued that by not condemning the action against Maduro's government, India is failing to stand up for the principle of national sovereignty it often champions.
India's Official Stance and the Road Ahead
In response to the evolving situation, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has stated that it is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela and supports the safety and well-being of its people. This carefully calibrated statement reflects the tightrope New Delhi is walking as it navigates the dual challenges of mounting Western pressure over its energy ties with Moscow and its own strategic interests.
The core of Chavan's warning is that the confluence of aggressive trade tactics and direct regime-change operations marks a new phase in international relations, where economic might is used to enforce political compliance, and sovereign boundaries are increasingly disregarded. The row underscores the deep anxieties within Indian political circles about the potential costs of defying US diktats in an increasingly polarized world.
