Why India Is Reluctant to Criticize the US on Venezuela

Summary

Syed Akbaruddin discusses India's restrained response to U.S. actions in Venezuela, explaining that India hedges international norms while balancing interests with Washington and the global South. He argues the UN is damaged but still necessary, and that small and middle powers need a norms-based global order to constrain major-power intervention.

• India's external affairs ministry expressed concern but has avoided strong criticism of U.S. actions in Venezuela.
• Syed Akbaruddin says India is hedging norms because U.S. rationale for its Venezuela actions remains unclear.
• He compares India's cautious approach to its earlier posture on Russia's intervention in Ukraine.
• The discussion covers whether India's U.S. trade negotiations limit its foreign-policy independence.
• Akbaruddin says the UN needs structural reform but remains the best forum available for states to air grievances.
• He notes the UN was designed to prevent big-power war, not to stop interventions by major powers against smaller ones.
• Smaller states and middle powers are portrayed as relying on a norms-based global order for legitimacy and protection.