The United States is pressing India to rethink its crude oil sourcing strategy by turning to Venezuelan supplies as an alternative to imports from Russia, a move that forms part of Washington’s wider effort to curb the financial resources available to Moscow during its ongoing war in Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that India would begin importing oil from Venezuela instead of relying on crude from Iran. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while travelling to Florida, Trump claimed that an understanding had already been reached. He stated that India was “coming in” to buy Venezuelan oil and that the basic framework of such a deal was already in place, emphasising that the shift would move Indian purchases away from Iran.
At present, India imports very little crude oil from Iran due to long-standing US sanctions, even though Tehran was once one of New Delhi’s major energy suppliers. Trump’s remarks followed indications from Washington that India could soon be permitted to resume purchases of Venezuelan crude, signalling a possible easing or recalibration of US policy toward Caracas where it aligns with broader geopolitical goals.
American officials are reportedly encouraging India to view Venezuelan oil as a viable substitute for Russian supplies. This push is part of a broader US strategy aimed at reducing the flow of revenue to Russia, thereby limiting its capacity to finance military operations in Ukraine. In this context, redirecting major energy buyers such as India away from Russian crude is seen as a key economic pressure tactic.
Trump also suggested that China might explore a similar arrangement with the United States to import Venezuelan oil, indicating that Washington could use access to Venezuela’s energy resources as leverage in its dealings with other major economies as well.
The US President further claimed to be playing a direct role in shaping Venezuela’s political situation, asserting that Delcy Rodriguez was acting as the country’s interim leader so long as US conditions—particularly those related to access to Venezuelan oil—were met. These claims come amid heightened international attention on Venezuela’s governance and energy sector.
Against this backdrop, Rodriguez held a conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation. According to official statements, the talks focused on expanding collaboration in energy, trade, and investment, with both sides agreeing to work toward deepening and broadening ties in the coming years. Modi later described the discussion as an opportunity to take India–Venezuela relations to “new heights.”
This interaction marked Modi’s first engagement with Rodriguez since a US-led overnight military operation on January 3 reportedly resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, a development that has reshaped the country’s political landscape.
India has historically been a significant buyer of Venezuelan crude, at times importing hundreds of thousands of barrels per day and accounting for nearly half of Venezuela’s total oil exports. However, trade between the two countries declined sharply after the United States tightened sanctions in the late 2010s, prompting Indian companies to drastically scale back purchases to avoid the risk of secondary sanctions. A renewed opening for Venezuelan oil could therefore represent a notable shift in India’s energy policy, shaped as much by geopolitics as by market considerations.
