Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha was the Indian Ambassador to Venezuela. Awakening
Rumani Ghosh. The incident of the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by the US seems to be erasing the lines drawn within the scope of international law. These rules were violated several times after World War II, but for the first time President Donald Trump publicly refused to accept it. Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, both India's diplomacy and strategy with all the countries of the world are being reviewed. One section in the country and abroad is calling India's move a good one, while another section is criticizing it.
In such a situation, Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha, former Indian Ambassador to Venezuela, takes advantage of this opportunity and advises to improve the policies. He says that nothing will change by criticizing America. Instead, one should remain silent and look for an opportunity to change the situation in one's favor. This is what we are trying to do to some extent. All countries that feel the need to restore the standards created after World War II should come together and demand removal of veto power in the UN Security Council and inclusion of major countries. It's hard, but this is the right time to start. Sinha has been the former High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka.
He has also held the post of Consul General of India in Dubai. From 2019 to 2023, he served as the Chief Information Commissioner in the Government of India. Presently he is the President of the Association of Indian Diplomats. Sinha is originally from Bihar. Sinha is a former army officer and former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant General S.K. Sinha's son. After completing his schooling from Bihar St. Xavier's High School, he came to Delhi. Did MA from St. Xavier's College. After that he was selected for foreign service. Rumani Ghosh, news editor of Dainik Jagran, discussed the situation in Venezuela and the global crisis in detail with him. Here are the main excerpts from the conversation:
What is Venezuela's military system like? Could she challenge the American army? The matter is not about challenging the American army, but about retaliating against the attack. Granted, the US Army will be equipped with Night Stalkers technology, but the Venezuelan Military also has its own radar system... missiles. A large number of Cuban security personnel are deployed to protect the President, but no resistance is seen anywhere. What were these people doing? I think the US military had some inside information.
Has there been an internal attack?
Yes. I think there has been betrayal... and he must be very close or confidant of Maduro. Now it is difficult to say how many people are involved in this, one, two or three.
Could opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado have a role in the assassination?
No, I don't think so. She was out of Venezuela for a long time, so it is not possible for her to penetrate the government so much. America must have 'compromised' only a confidant of Maduro.
Solid evidence of internal assassination has not been found, then what is the reason to think so?
I have seen the Mira Flores Palace where President Maduro lives. The Mira Flores Palace is the official office or residence of the President of Venezuela and is located downtown. I know it is not so easy to enter there. When Maduro was picked up, he was in a fluoridated military camp. Because of this, the talk of internal attack gets strengthened.
According to you, what is the reason for this attack? How strong is America's argument about narcoterrorism?
Clearly this is a game of oil. Understand it this way... Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves. There are 303 billion barrels of oil reserves here. This is more than Saudi, Kuwait and Russia. The difference is that their oil is called 'heavy sour crude'. The cost of refining it is high and the process is a bit lengthy. Even in India, there are only two or three companies like Reliance or SR, which have the facility to refine this crude oil. Venezuela's interim President Delsey Rodriguez also said the same thing in her address on Friday.
Trump is claiming that Venezuela is stealing America's oil. why and how?
If there are oil reserves on Venezuelan soil, the oil will belong to that country. To understand what Trump is claiming, you have to look into the political background of Venezuela, the famous Bolivarian Revolution and the period of nationalization of the oil industry. Former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez came to power in 1999. Before this, the Venezuelan government was completely supported by America. American oil refining companies had invested here on a large scale. There were also some large European refineries. These companies exploited a lot and made a lot of money.
A few Venezuelan industrialists benefited from this, but the common man was very troubled. Due to this, a situation of unnatural imbalance was created in the society. Hugo Chavez, who emerged as a labor leader during that period, launched a campaign against the oil industry and came to power with a socialist agenda as the messiah of the poor. After becoming President, he launched the 'Bolivarian Revolution' to nationalize the oil industries. Following the nationalization of the oil industry, the state oil and gas company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) was formed. When profits started decreasing, American companies and engineers left the place. Due to this their oil industry started collapsing. However, after that Russian and Chinese companies invested. OVL (ONGC Videsh Limited) of India's ONGC also reached there. When I was posted there in 2007-2009, Ovil started refining work with the Santacristoval company.
About two years later, Venezuela's oil industry suffered the biggest blow when the Exomovil company, which used to refine two lakh barrels of oil per day, left the country. Later it was handed over to four-five companies including PetroBrazil. India's Ovil was also included in this and had 10-12 percent stake. At that time we were also buying oil from Venezuela. Reliance was buying 1.5 lakh barrels of oil per day. Increased significantly till the year 2014-15. However, after restrictions started being imposed, it started reducing. Now it is almost closed. With the collapse of the oil industry, Venezuela's economy also completely collapsed.
Is America eyeing only oil or other resources also?
Venezuela is a very beautiful country. There is oil here, apart from this there is gold, iron ore, rare earth materials. Apart from this there are very beautiful beaches, on the other side there are mountains. Here is the world's highest Angel Waterfall, due to which there is abundance of water. At one time Caracas was called the Paris of South America. Trump is saying that if he runs Venezuela, he will keep an eye on these things also.
The US ambassador, Mike Waltz, described it as a 'surgical law enforcement operation'. Why was the action on Panama not criticized as much as the action on Venezuela?
The same basis for action on Panama and Venezuela is being said to be narco terrorism or trafficking, but there is a lot of difference between the two. American troops were already present in Panama. General Manuel was raised by America itself. In 1989, during the tenure of former President George H.W. Bush, General Manuel Noriega was arrested in a military action, while Venezuela is an independent country. American soldiers were not present there. Kidnapping the President of a country by sending Delta Force at night is 'kidnapping'. The whole world could not predict such an action.
America's dominance is decreasing due to events like not being able to stop the Russia-Ukraine war, increasing dominance of China, increasing distance from Europe and challenge to the dollar. The world order is changing. Is this why Trump wants to restore American prominence in the entire world including the Western Hemisphere by taking such action?
No. Everyone is aware of America's military capability and Trump does not need to prove it. As far as changing the world order is concerned, it will definitely change. China is challenging. India is also moving forward. America will definitely try to stop them. Tariff action against India could be a part of this. However, the action taken on Venezuela has nothing to do with this.
After Venezuela, Trump has his eyes on Mexico, Cuba and Greenland. Will the world now run on the lines of 'whose stick, his buffalo...'? Correct. The world is still running on the same lines - someone's stick, his buffalo. Trump's goal is clear that only Americans should benefit. They don't care about the rest of the world. The whole world is ready for unilateral (action taken without the consent of the other party) action, but the President of any country will be taken away. The whole world could not guess this. America has always had the most powerful and technologically advanced military force in the world. With this military power, the people there elected a ruler like Trump as the President.
So will any country attack and occupy anyone? Will China capture Taiwan?
As far as occupation is concerned, here we are talking about not any country but America. Yes, we can say that this has made it easier for China to invade Taiwan. Now whether China takes military action or annexes it through talks like Hong Kong. Only the country which has that much military capability will be able to take this step.
In this way the international legal framework will completely collapse?
Reform in the United Nations Security Council seems to be the only way forward. In this, all the countries should demand abolition of veto power. Increase the role of temporary members. This is not easy, but except America, other countries and non-permanent members having veto power will have to continuously raise the demand for this. A resolution has to be passed every year. This is not easy, but it is necessary to re-establish the international legal order.
Is there any case in your diplomatic career in which the Indian government turned the situation around amid criticism?
Right after the nuclear test... Nuclear testing took place in May 1998. At that time I was posted in Pakistan. I know how we handled the situation. After a few months, I was posted to the UN in New York. Chief Ministers and Ministers of different countries come to the UN and participate in the general debate segment. Express your views. I was made to sit in the General Assembly Hall to take notes. Instructions were received from Delhi that whatever happens from morning till evening, a report should be made and e-mailed. At that time I saw that every country was condemning us.
There would be only a few countries who were not condemning us. The same America which had imposed sanctions on us, later made a nuclear deal with us. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister at that time. Jaswant Singh and Yashwant Sinha suffered a lot while being Foreign Ministers, but gradually they converted that problem into an opportunity. After that, when Manmohan Singh became the Prime Minister, he carried forward the same policy and executed the nuclear deal. I call this 'passing the phase'. That means one stage has to be crossed.
As a diplomat, how do you remain calm when your country is criticized?
Diplomats of any country do not use critical or objectionable words among themselves. When we sit face to face at the table, we represent our respective countries. Except for a few people like Trump and his trade deal advisors, you won't hear this kind of language. Now just look at Mark Rubio, you will never hear him speaking this kind of language.
India reacted to this incident but did not condemn it. Hesitation or avoidance in taking the name of America is also being criticized. What is the strategy behind 'silence'?
You tell me, will the situation change by criticizing America? It is more important to change the situation by remaining silent. The Indian Government has taken this step very thoughtfully. When you sit down to deal at the table, the circumstances are very different. America is similarly trying to put pressure on India.
Due to 50 percent tariff, many sectors including our textile industry have started being affected. If America imposes 200 percent tariff after a reaction, will we be able to handle that situation? The Indian government is gradually increasing trade relations with other countries including Europe. Sure, it's not as big a market as the US, but it's still an alternative.
Can America ever behave like this with India? First, we are not Venezuelans…. Second, we are 145 crore and third, we are a nuclear power. I don't think there is any reason for us to be treated like this. We still have very deep relations with the US. We are not encouraging China. We know that China is never going to be our friend. Let me give you an example that as far as buying oil from Russia is concerned, if Venezuelan oil comes in the market and it is cheap, then we will reduce buying oil from Russia and start buying oil from America. This will reduce America's resentment.
If India's relations with America deteriorate further, then what should India do?
India should run 1000 talent program like China. Under this, the talented youth who went to America should return to India instead of going to any other country. The government should run special programs for them and develop new areas.