New Delhi: Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, who were recently “captured” in a United States military operation, share a little-known spiritual connection with India that dates back nearly two decades. Long before Venezuela became the epicentre of global sanctions, narcotics allegations and regime-change politics, Maduro and Flores were followers of Indian spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba — a link that has resurfaced amid dramatic geopolitical developments.
The US administration under President Donald Trump has accused Maduro and Flores of overseeing a vast cocaine-trafficking network and partnering with violent criminal groups across Latin America. According to Reuters, US special forces carried out a high-risk operation over the weekend, entering Caracas by helicopter and breaching Maduro’s security cordon to detain him from a secure location. The operation marks the biggest US military intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama.
Washington has alleged that Maduro worked with Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, Colombia’s FARC rebels and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang — accusations that Maduro has consistently denied. He has instead claimed that the charges are a pretext for US attempts to gain control over Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
How Maduro’s India connection began
Years before global scrutiny intensified, Maduro’s connection with India developed through his wife, Cilia Flores. According to reports, Flores introduced Maduro — who was raised Catholic — to Sathya Sai Baba before their marriage. Both eventually became followers of the Indian spiritual leader.
In 2005, nearly eight years before Maduro became President of Venezuela, the couple visited Prasanthi Nilayam, Sathya Sai Baba’s ashram in Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh. A photograph from the visit shows a young Maduro and Flores seated on the floor alongside the spiritual leader — an image that has since gained renewed attention.
Official gestures and symbolic ties
Maduro’s reverence for Sathya Sai Baba continued even after assuming high office. In 2011, following the spiritual leader’s death, Maduro — then Venezuela’s foreign minister — facilitated the passage of an official condolence resolution in the Venezuelan National Assembly, highlighting Baba’s global influence.
The symbolic association did not end there. For Venezuela’s National Day celebrations in 2024, government invitations reportedly featured the “Om” symbol in the corner, a rare cultural reference in Latin American state communication. In November 2025, Maduro also honoured Sathya Sai Baba’s centenary, describing him publicly as a “being of light”.
A contrast of faith and geopolitics
The resurfacing of Maduro’s India connection stands in sharp contrast to the current narrative surrounding his leadership — one dominated by allegations of narcotics trafficking, authoritarianism and international intervention. It also underlines how personal belief systems and spiritual affiliations can coexist with, and sometimes clash against, the harsh realities of global power politics.
Our Thoughts
Maduro’s India connection through Sathya Sai Baba is a reminder that political leaders often carry personal histories that defy their present-day global image. As Venezuela finds itself at the centre of a dramatic geopolitical confrontation, these quieter chapters offer perspective on how belief, symbolism and personal faith can intersect with power — even as international narratives are shaped by force, sanctions and strategic interests.