The dramatic U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, marks a bold intervention in Latin America, reverberating far beyond the Western Hemisphere to influence global energy dynamics and great-power rivalries. For India, a major oil importer with historical ties to Venezuela, this event underscores vulnerabilities in energy security amid volatile international relations, especially as it disrupts supplies from a nation holding the world’s largest proven crude reserves. Recent explosions in Caracas and U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of a “large-scale strike” highlight the operation’s precision, involving elite units like Delta Force, amid longstanding accusations of Maduro’s narcoterrorism.U.S. forces executed Operation Absolute Resolve early on January 3, targeting military sites in Caracas, Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira, capturing Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, who were airlifted to the USS Iwo Jima for U.S. trials on drug trafficking charges. Trump confirmed the action via Truth Social, stating Venezuelan military capacities were neutralized in coordination with U.S. law enforcement, and vowed to “run the country” until a safe transition. Venezuelan officials labeled it an “illegal invasion,” declaring a national emergency, with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanding proof of life; social media videos showed low-flying helicopters and blasts at La Carlota airport, though unverified claims of widespread chaos remain distinct from confirmed reports.Russia and China swiftly condemned the strikes as violations of sovereignty, with Moscow expressing “deep concern” and Beijing calling it “hegemonic,” while allies like Brazil, Mexico, Cuba, and Colombia decried the breach of UN Charter. The UN Secretary-General voiced alarm over international law precedents. India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a travel advisory urging citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Venezuela and exercise caution, citing instability, with no official political stance yet; former Ambassador R. Viswanathan noted it as unsurprising given prior U.S. threats. No statements emerged from Indian defense institutions like the Ministry of Defence or IDSA in the immediate aftermath.Militarily, the operation showcases U.S. special forces’ precision—Delta Force and SEALs neutralizing defenses in hours—echoing the 2019 Baghdadi raid, but risks Venezuelan retaliation backed by Russian arms. Strategically, it counters Chinese economic footholds (loans-for-oil) and Russian military ties in America’s backyard, potentially stabilizing oil flows but sparking regional instability near Guyana, a flashpoint India monitors via Essequibo disputes.Technologically, strikes hit airfields and Fort Tiuna, degrading Venezuela’s Soviet-era capabilities, while geopolitically, it signals Trump’s hemispheric primacy, disrupting BRICS-like alignments and energy markets; oil prices dipped initially but face volatility from Venezuela’s 700,000 b/d exports. For global security, it sets precedents for “decapitation strikes” against adversaries, heightening proxy risks in multipolar tensions. For India,India’s security imperatives prioritize energy autonomy, with Venezuelan heavy crude vital for Reliance’s Jamnagar refinery—imports hit $1 billion in 2023-24 (63,000-100,000 b/d)—and ONGC Videsh investments in fields like San Cristobal. The U.S. action threatens disruptions, though refiners like Reliance had scaled back post-sanctions; India’s diversification to 40 sources mitigates but highlights overreliance risks. Strategic autonomy demands hedging against U.S. unilateralism, as seen in past sanction waivers, while defense diplomacy via NAM aligns with non-interference, protecting ties with Russia-China without endorsing Maduro.Military preparedness remains unaffected directly, but lessons in special ops apply to India’s counter-narcotics and border ops; geopolitically, it bolsters U.S.-India QUAD synergy against China, yet New Delhi must safeguard Latin American inroads for minerals and pharma exports. Western outlets like Reuters and BBC frame the capture as decisive against a “dictator,” citing indictments and regional stability gains, with allies like Argentina’s Milei hailing it. Critics, including Al Jazeera and UN voices, decry sovereignty violations akin to Panama 1989, warning of Latin American blowback. Russia and China view it as U.S. imperialism targeting their assets—Beijing’s $60 billion loans, Moscow’s bombers—defending multipolarity. India’s prudent silence respects U.S. security claims against narcostates while prioritizing sovereignty, differing from knee-jerk condemnations; this balanced non-alignment defends legitimate interests without alienating partners.The Maduro capture reshapes global alliances, potentially easing Venezuelan oil access under a pro-U.S. regime but risking instability and higher prices impacting India’s import bill. Implications include eroded Russian-Chinese influence, aiding India’s Indo-Pacific posture, yet underscoring U.S. interventionism’s perils for sovereign equity.India should accelerate refinery upgrades for diverse crudes, pursue bilateral energy pacts via NAM, and advocate multilateral sanctions reforms at UN; enhanced intel-sharing with U.S. on narco-threats, while monitoring Guyana-Venezuela borders, fortifies strategic autonomy amid multipolarity.