The US Operation Absolute Resolve (2026)—capturing Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, wife Cilia Flores, and key officials invokes a “Trump Corollary” to the 1823 Monroe Doctrine, reviving overt interventionism.

Monroe Doctrine

The Monroe Doctrine (1823), proclaimed by President James Monroe, established two core principles safeguarding US hemispheric dominance:

• Non-Colonization: Prohibited European powers from creating new colonies in the Americas.
• Non-Interference: Viewed any external power’s attempt to extend political influence over Western Hemisphere nations as a hostile act against US security interests.

Monroe Doctrine Evolution

The US intervention

• Oil reserves: Venezuela has world’s largest proven crude oil reserves (300+ billion barrels, ~20% of global total) but <1% production due to sanctions and decay.​
• Energy security: US seeks control over Venezuelan oil for stable prices and strategic leverage in global markets.
• Counter rivals: Blocks Venezuela’s ties with China, Russia, Iran to maintain US dominance in Western Hemisphere.
• Regional fears: Mexico, Colombia, Cuba worry about US interventionism eroding sovereignty via sanctions and security pretexts.

Impact on India

• Minimal trade impact: US-Venezuela conflict has negligible effect on India as bilateral trade already collapsed under sanctions. India’s exports to Venezuela were just USD 95.3 million in FY2025, mainly pharmaceuticals.
• Limited energy exposure: India’s crude oil imports from Venezuela dropped 81.3% to USD 255.3 million in FY2025 from USD 1.4 billion in FY2024. No short-term threat to energy security.
• ​Future oil opportunity: Eased sanctions could bring discounted Venezuelan crude back, diversifying India’s supply and boosting bargaining power against West Asian suppliers amid US pressure on Russian oil.
• ​Strategic autonomy challenge: India supports non-interventionism and democratic processes, complicating its balance between Global South opposition to US actions and strategic US partnership.

US intervention via revived Monroe Doctrine reasserts American primacy against rival powers, challenging multipolar global order. India’s minimal economic exposure belies strategic tensions between Global South solidarity and US partnership. Unilateral actions undermine sovereignty norms, urging multilateral democratic solutions