The Unchained Leviathan: What Washington’s Move On Caracas Means For New Delhi’s Strategic Autonomy – OpEd
The spectacle was as cinematic as it was chilling. The recent operational culmination of the United States’ long-standing judicial pursuit of the Venezuelan leadership—resulting in the unprecedented detention of a sitting head of state—has sent shockwaves through the corridors of power far beyond the Western Hemisphere. While Washington frames this dramatic escalation as a triumph of “rule of law” over autocracy, the Global South sees something far more ominous: the weaponization of domestic US statutes into a global dragnet from which no nation is truly safe.
For decades, the Monroe Doctrine was interpreted as a geopolitical “keep out” sign, a shield against European colonialism in the Americas. However, in the 21st century, under the guise of defending democracy, this doctrine has mutated into a sword of extraterritorial jurisdiction. The message radiating from the Potomac is clear: the United States is no longer merely the policeman of the world; it is the judge, jury, and executioner, operating with a self-granted warrant that respects no border.
As the dust settles in Caracas, the tremors are being felt in New Delhi. For India, a rising power currently enjoying a “golden age” of diplomatic courtship with the United States, this event should serve not as a distant news story, but as a flashing red warning light.
The Neo-Monroe Doctrine: Sovereignty on Trial
The arrest in Venezuela represents the ultimate evolution of American exceptionalism. It establishes a terrifying precedent: that the sovereign immunity traditionally afforded to heads of state is null and void if it conflicts with the geopolitical interests or domestic legal frameworks of the United States.
Washington has effectively declared that its definition of “criminality”—whether related to narcotics, corruption, or human rights—supersedes the sovereignty of other nations. This is the Monroe Doctrine on steroids. It is no longer limited to preventing foreign military bases in the Caribbean; it is about dictating the internal composition of foreign governments through the mechanism of lawfare. If the US Department of Justice can indict and effectively decapitate the leadership of a UN member state, the concept of Westphalian sovereignty is dead.
This approach creates a chaotic international environment where “might makes right” is dressed up in the language of justice. It suggests that any nation that falls afoul of Washington’s strategic consensus could find its leaders branded as criminals and hunted down. Today it is Venezuela, justified by allegations of narco-terrorism; tomorrow, could it be a leader in the Middle East, Africa, or even a strategic partner who refuses to tow the line on sanctions?
The Gilded Chariot with No Brakes
To understand the peril of this moment, one must look at the current trajectory of American power. The United States resembles a luxurious war chariot—technologically unmatched, economically gilded, and heavily armed—thundering down the highway of history. However, to outside observers, it appears the driver is either intoxicated by hubris or fighting for control of the steering wheel.
The internal polarization of US politics has led to a foreign policy that is increasingly erratic and aggressive. When a superpower feels insecure at home, it lashes out abroad to demonstrate vitality. This makes the “American Chariot” dangerous not just to its enemies, but to its passengers and those standing on the roadside. The seizure of the Venezuelan presidency is an act of desperation disguised as strength, a bid to reassert hegemony in a world drifting toward multipolarity.
The danger lies in the lack of restraint. The checks and balances that once constrained American foreign policy—international law, the United Nations, and the counsel of traditional allies—have been systematically eroded. We are witnessing a superpower that believes it can reshape reality through force and sanctions alone. This is a chariot careening toward an uncontrollable destination, and any nation tethered to it risks being dragged into the wreckage.
The Cautionary Tale for India
This brings us to New Delhi. In recent years, India has drawn closer to the US, driven by a desire for technological transfer. The logic of the Indo-US partnership is sound in a realist framework, but the “Venezuela Precedent” necessitates a recalibration of risk.
India prides itself on “Strategic Autonomy”—the ability to make independent decisions based on national interest. However, the nature of American friendship is transactional and often suffocating. Washington does not seek partners; it seeks deputies. As India rises, its interests will inevitably diverge from those of the US, whether on issues of trade, climate justice, relations with Russia, or digital sovereignty.
If the US is willing to dismantle the government of a neighbor to enforce its will, what guarantees does India have that its own sovereignty will remain sacrosanct? We have already seen the precursors of this tension. The recent friction regarding alleged extraterritorial plots involving Sikh separatists was a shot across the bow. It demonstrated that the US intelligence and legal apparatus is willing to encroach on Indian security concerns when they conflict with American domestic politics.
Furthermore, the “long arm” jurisdiction used against Venezuela relies heavily on the dominance of the US dollar and the SWIFT banking system. India’s economy, while growing, is still integrated into this Western-dominated financial architecture. By normalizing the arrest of foreign leaders and the seizure of sovereign assets, the US is sharpening a knife that could one day be held against New Delhi’s throat should India refuse to align with American sanctions regimes or geopolitical crusades.
The takeaway for Indian policymakers is not to sever ties with the United States—that would be geopolitically naive. The US remains a vital source of capital and technology. However, the embrace must be loosened. India must accelerate its efforts to build a multipolar world where no single nation possesses the power to unilaterally decapitate another’s government.
This means doubling down on the creation of alternative payment mechanisms, strengthening ties within the Global South, and maintaining a robust, diversified portfolio of alliances. The arrest of the Venezuelan president is a brutal reminder that in the eyes of Washington, international law is a tool of statecraft, not a binding constraint.
The American war chariot is moving at breakneck speed, fueled by a belief in its own moral superiority and unassailable power. India would do well to run alongside it when necessary, but it must never chain itself to the wheels. History is littered with the remains of nations that mistook an imperial summons for a partnership of equals. In the shadow of the Venezuelan crisis, New Delhi’s watchword must be caution.