Venezuelan Official Meets Indian Prime Minister to Strengthen Ties

Delcy Rodriguez, who is referred to as Venezuela’s “acting president,” met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Thursday. This visit is part of India’s initiative to enhance its oil and commercial relations with Venezuela.

On social media, Rodriguez expressed gratitude for the warm reception, stating, “It was an honor to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India at the Hyderabad House. Thank you for the warm welcome and conveyed the greetings of the Venezuelan people.”

In a follow-up post, she detailed their discussions on various sectors including transportation, health, energy, agriculture, and science and technology. They explored new partnerships that could be mutually beneficial and reaffirmed their commitment to growing their relationship for shared prosperity.

Rodriguez is in the midst of a five-day official visit, which will conclude on Sunday, June 7. This visit aims to bolster Venezuela’s trade links with India, which has become the nation’s second-largest oil importer due to its relations with the United States.

Rodriguez has been leading Venezuela’s socialist government since January. This recent shift in leadership occurred after U.S. military action led to the arrest of Nicolas Maduro. Subsequently, she has been collaborating with the Trump administration to seek aid and investment aimed at reconstructing the nation’s infrastructure, including its vital oil and mining sectors.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio provided updates last week on the arrangement concerning Venezuelan oil sales, indicating that revenues from these transactions are now being funneled through U.S. Treasury Department-controlled accounts. He noted that this structure has enhanced protection against potential theft, a significant change since Hugo Chávez’s era began in 1999. Over 10 million barrels of Venezuelan oil have reportedly reached the U.S. since early January.

As the world’s third-largest oil consumer, India imports about 90 percent of its oil, primarily from Middle Eastern countries. However, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have led India to diversify its sources, resulting in increased purchases of Venezuelan crude oil, with reports indicating around 427,000 barrels per day.

India’s engagement with Venezuela appears to offer a solution to replace oil previously imported from Iran. According to maritime data, Venezuela may soon rank as India’s fourth-largest oil supplier. Following a meeting with Venezuelan officials, India’s Ministry of External Affairs emphasized a focus on energy initiatives, labeling Venezuela as a “preferred” partner.

In discussions following the meeting with Modi, Rodriguez also met India’s Oil Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri. The Indian Ministry of Petroleum reaffirmed its intent to support Venezuela’s energy recovery and encouraged the presence of Indian companies in Venezuela’s energy sector.

In addition, Rodriguez visited the Jamnagar Refinery in India, where she met with the Managing Director of Reliance Industries. Her trip emphasizes continued collaboration, and the agenda will extend with further visits in Mumbai.