Law of the jungle of might is right taking over world order: Tharoor on Maduro’s capture

Thiruvananthapuram: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the recent US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, warning that the “law of the jungle of might is right” appears to be replacing the principles of the liberal international order.

Speaking in what he described as his “purely private individual capacity”, Tharoor said the episode involved serious violations of international law. “The UN Charter specifically refers to the sovereignty of member states, the inviolability of borders and the inadmissibility of the use of force to settle international disputes — all of which have been violated in this particular episode,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the fourth edition of the Kerala Legislative Assembly International Book Festival (KILBF).

The Congress leader, who chairs Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, noted that while the situation had not “prolonged itself militarily” — with Venezuela’s Vice President stepping in as interim President and efforts underway to restore normalcy — tensions remained high. He cited reports of repression, arrests and unrest on the streets.

“We can’t sort of talk about an invasion anymore because those who have come have gone,” Tharoor said. However, he added that motivations being attributed to the episode and some of the claims being made were “somewhat distasteful”.

“I don’t think it is appropriate for us to sit here this far away and pass judgment on matters that happened a long time ago. But I think Indians should understand that a country’s natural resources belong to that country. How those resources are used should be the prerogative of the representatives of that country,” he said.

Asked about reports that US President Donald Trump had made similar remarks about possible action against Cuba and Greenland, Tharoor said, “It looks as if something like the law of the jungle of might is right is taking over from the old principles of the so-called liberal international order.” Summing up his concern, he added: “The old world order has given way to a new world disorder.”

On India’s approach, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s agreement to meet President Trump, Tharoor said every country prioritises its national interests. “For me, those national interests mean we don’t want to create major enemies or major problems for ourselves anywhere, and we want to preserve channels of communication with everyone as far as possible,” he said.

He reiterated his long-standing support for a multi-aligned foreign policy. “In my writings, I’ve advocated good relations with Russia, decent relations with China, good relations with America, opening up to Europe, developing new avenues in Africa, and improving ties with Australia and New Zealand,” he said, calling it a strategy of “maximising our options”.

“In life, in politics, in diplomacy, very often the more options you have, the more you are protected from the vagaries and vicissitudes of any one country doing anything to you,” Tharoor added.

He said India has consistently upheld the UN Charter, and that developments in Venezuela had therefore “troubled many Indians across political party lines”. Referring to his party’s position, he said: “My party has already issued a strong and clearly worded statement. As far as the Government of India is concerned, they have their own compulsions, and very often what the Ministry of External Affairs chooses not to say is as important as what they do say.”

“In diplomacy,” he concluded, “there are challenges in negotiating certain relationships.”