MAIN SOURCES: The times of India : linked
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/mind-the-gap/venezuela-minerals-and-lessons-for-india-the-return-of-old-style-imperialism/
As the world saw the shocking image of President Nicolás Maduro handcuffed, forced to march in humiliating fashion with nothing but a water bottle in hand, it became painfully clear: Donald Trump’s assurances that he would “never start a war” were, at best, theatrical fiction. The spectacle was more than political theater—it was a vivid reminder that imperialism has not retired gracefully to history books. Trump had, in fact, started a war not for democracy, not for humanitarian intervention, but to seize natural resources, all the while keeping Greenland in his crosshairs, hinting that Arctic minerals might be next on the menu.
For India, this grotesque display is a salutary reminder of why nuclear deterrence matters. Unlike many nations, India possesses a credible nuclear arsenal that serves as a strategic insurance policy—no foreign power is likely to humiliate our leadership, occupy our territory, or casually threaten our sovereignty. And yet, the Venezuelan drama underscores a broader, sobering reality: old-style imperialism is back, albeit dressed in modern rhetoric. The objectives are eerily familiar—resource control, geopolitical dominance, and the subjugation of sovereign nations.
To view Venezuela solely as an oil-rich petro-state is to ignore the real prize. The country sits at the northern gateway to the Andes, the mineral backbone of the Western Hemisphere. South of Caracas, Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Colombia boast enormous reserves of copper, lithium, silver, and rare earth elements—critical for green energy, advanced electronics, and modern weaponry.
China has patiently woven an alternative supply chain across these territories, quietly establishing influence and trade networks outside Washington’s reach. By destabilising Venezuela, the US aims to fracture these supply chains, send a pointed message to Latin American governments, and reassert hemispheric dominance under the banner of a “Monroe Doctrine 2.0.”
Control Venezuela, and three objectives are achieved with brutal efficiency: flank the Andes, disrupt China’s Belt and Road network, and remind neighbors that defiance carries existential risk. Oil revenues cannot possibly justify this intervention. The math simply does not add up. The war is about power, positioning, and control over the minerals that will fuel the 21st century.
Colonialism without filters
This is not neocolonial subtlety. There is no rhetorical sugar-coating about “democracy” or “protecting civilians.” Washington has brazenly stated its intentions: control Venezuela’s resources, govern indefinitely, and only later—if it suits U.S. interests—return power.
India, which endured centuries of British exploitation, knows this game well. The British looted our natural resources, used our labor to manufacture cheap goods, and exported wealth on an industrial scale, all while preaching the civilising mission. Today’s U.S. imperial project is similar in its core ambition—minus the Victorian costumes and polite language—seeking to extract wealth and strategic advantage under a modern, militarised guise. History, it seems, has a cruel sense of humor.
Europe’s muted complicity
Brussels watches, as always, with a sigh of relief: the aggression is happening far from Europe, not in Greenland or the Arctic. But silence is complicity. By refusing to condemn blatant violations of sovereignty in Venezuela, Europe effectively signals that hemispheric intervention is acceptable, at least when it is inconvenient to oppose. Finally, the Danish Prime Minister pushed back yesterday, declaring that Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders. This assertion is a small but meaningful reminder that sovereignty cannot be negotiated away for convenience or geopolitical expediency. Denmark and Europe must remain vigilant; the logic applied to Venezuela today—might makes right, resources trump law—could easily be applied to the Arctic tomorrow.
Minerals as the new global currency
Oil fueled the 20th century; minerals will dictate the 21st. Copper, lithium, and rare earth elements are the building blocks of the future—energy, technology, and weaponry. Venezuela’s oil is at best a smokescreen; the real game is denial, positioning, and control of critical resources.
Nations that fail to recognise this will find themselves subordinated to the strategic imperatives of others. This is not speculation—it is history repeating itself in a modern key.
Lessons for India: Strategic partnerships and autonomy
For India, there are both warning and opportunity. India should actively strengthen strategic partnerships with China, Russia, and the European Union across defense, energy, trade, technology, and infrastructure. Diversified alliances ensure resilience in global supply chains and access to critical resources while navigating great power rivalries.
Historical memory matters. India knows the consequences of unchecked foreign exploitation. The British turned our labor and resources into profit; the lesson is clear: economic and strategic autonomy is non-negotiable. Today, India’s nuclear deterrent, combined with smart alliances and careful diplomacy, ensures that no power can repeat that humiliation.
© 2026, DetectivPress. Toate drepturile rezervate.
