Ambassador Ashok Sajjanhar served in the Indian Foreign Service for over three decades. During his distinguished career, he served as India’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Sweden, and Latvia, and held key diplomatic assignments in Washington, D.C., Brussels, Moscow, Geneva, Tehran, Dhaka, and Bangkok. Today, Ambassador Sajjanhar regularly writes and speaks on issues related to international relations and India’s foreign policy.
In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ambassador Sajjanhar discusses the United States’ actions in Venezuela and what this means for global politics. He also talks about Chinese weaponry, which he claims failed to perform during the Venezuelan crisis. The conversation further explores why Indian godmen enjoy a massive following in South American countries, a phenomenon that often surprises many.
Ambassador Sajjanhar also shares his views on Donald Trump’s interest in buying Greenland, the way the US is handling trade negotiations with India, and what the future may hold for India’s foreign policy.
00:00 – Introduction
01:08 – US move to capture Maduro legitimate?
04:33 – Narco-terrorism charges against Venezuela
05:54 – When US captured Manuel Noriega (1989)
08:27 – Can the US run Venezuela?
11:41 – Venezuela is not just about oil
15:21 – Venezuela & Sathya Sai Baba connection
17:54 – Can Trump buy Greenland?
20:17 – Europe on Venezuela crisis & Greenland
24:31 – Putin’s war in Ukraine legitimate?
26:20 – China’s weapons failed in Venezuela
29:05 – China vs USA: The No. 1 global rivalry
34:00 – Will China invade Taiwan?
37:10 – India’s response to Maduro's capture
41:54 – India’s crude oil needs
44:19 – India–USA trade tensions
50:14 – India’s pivot towards China
52:28 – China–Pakistan–Bangladesh nexus
