The Ministry of External Affairs released a critical advisory on Saturday, January 4, 2026, strongly recommending that all Indian nationals presently in Venezuela exercise extreme caution and significantly restrict their movements in light of the reported extensive U.S. military strikes targeting Caracas and President Donald Trump's public assertion regarding the capture and removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro along with his wife Cilia Flores by American forces.

Indian residents and visitors in Venezuela are explicitly urged to establish and maintain regular communication with the Embassy of India in Caracas, utilizing the designated emergency contact channels provided in the advisory, including the official email address cons.caracas@mea.gov.in and the 24-hour emergency telephone number +58-412-9584288, which is also equipped to receive WhatsApp calls for immediate assistance during this period of heightened uncertainty.

This precautionary measure comes in direct response to the rapidly deteriorating security environment following multiple confirmed explosions across the capital in the pre-dawn hours, with eyewitness accounts describing low-altitude military aircraft operations, resulting fires, widespread electricity disruptions, and dense columns of smoke enveloping several districts, while Venezuelan officials have mobilized national armed forces in a comprehensive defensive posture.

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In an official declaration, Venezuela's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez characterized the U.S. actions as the most severe aggression ever inflicted upon the nation, calling for national unity and calm to prevent internal disorder, as the government formally instituted a state of external disturbance—an emergency framework that enhances military authority and permits the temporary suspension of certain civil liberties while rallying supporters for public demonstrations.

Amid volatile conditions marked by intermittent communication blackouts and unpredictable security risks, compounded by Trump's confirmation of the detained couple's transfer to United States custody to face federal charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy and drug-related offenses, Indian authorities have reinforced guidance for nationals to prioritize safety by remaining indoors wherever possible, refraining from all non-essential travel, and vigilantly following updates from the embassy for any further instructions or coordinated support measures.

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