Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodrigues will visit India for the first time since taking office as the President of Venezuela. She has had a long-standing diplomatic relationship with New Delhi and has travelled to the country multiple times in her previous governmental roles. This is her sixth visit to India. Delcy Rodriguez's visit to India will last 5 days from June 3 to June 7, and will hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a press briefing on Tuesday.<h2>Venezuelan oil to fulfil Indian energy needs</h2>The visit comes at a time when India, the third largest importer of crude oil, has faced a supply crunch due to the US-Israeli war on Iran. Venezuela has emerged as India's fifth-largest source of crude oil imports in May, supplying over 266,000 barrels a day or roughly 5.3 per cent of total crude imports, according to maritime analytics firm Kpler. While the June arrival is expected to rise over 300,000 barrels a day. India's Reliance Industries has emerged as one of the three largest buyers of Venezuelan ​crude, along with Chevron and Vitol. Indian buyers previously stopped purchasing Venezuelan crude following US sanctions. Now India again resumed purchases in February after more than 10 months, specifically through US-based Chevron and Vitol."As part of the programme, the Venezuelan delegation will visit several sites connected with energy, pharmaceuticals and auto sectors to gain insights into India’s technological and industrial capabilities and to explore opportunities for collaboration," said MEA in a press briefing.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-is-steve-hilton-5-unique-things-california-governor-candidate-1780468240756">Who is Steve Hilton? 5 things to know about the California governor candidate</a><h2>India had usually been reliant on Gulf oil&nbsp;</h2>Historicall Indian had been reliant on Gulf oil, with imports from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait. In 2022, with the outbreak of the Russian war in Ukraine and Western sanctions on Moscow, India started to aggressively purchase Russian Urals. Russia shattered the Gulf monopoly by supplying discounted crude and rose to the top of the Indian supplier, capturing over 35-40 per cent of the Indian market. However, as the war in West Asia started, and the effective closure of Hormuz for nearly 80-days, India's residual reliance on Gulf Oil became problematic. Further, India's dependence on irregular waivers from the US to purchase Russian crude hurt the policy of economic nationalism and price pragmatism. Though India maintained a strategic autonomy, India's pivot towards Venezuela is, on one hand, reclaiming the old market, and on the other hand, maintaining a symbolic relationship and assisting Washington to stabilise crude oil prices. However, purchasing Venezuelan crude poses a logistical challenge as it takes more than 20-25 days for shipments to arrive via the Atlantic basin, compared to the 5-7 days of oil transport through the Persian Gulf, along with additional shipping and insurance costs.&nbsp;

Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez begins a five-day India visit focused on energy, trade and investment as New Delhi ramps up crude oil imports from Venezuela amid Middle East supply disruptions.

Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodrigues will visit India for the first time since taking office as the President of Venezuela. She has had a long-standing diplomatic relationship with New Delhi and has travelled to the country multiple times in her previous governmental roles. This is her sixth visit to India. Delcy Rodriguez's visit to India will last 5 days from June 3 to June 7, and will hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a press briefing on Tuesday. Venezuelan oil to fulfil Indian energy needs The visit comes at a time when India, the third largest importer of crude oil, has faced a supply crunch due to the US-Israeli war on Iran. Venezuela has emerged as India's fifth-largest source of crude oil imports in May, supplying over 266,000 barrels a day or roughly 5.3 per cent of total crude imports, according to maritime analytics firm Kpler. While the June arrival is expected to rise over 300,000 barrels a day. India's Reliance Industries has emerged as one of the three largest buyers of Venezuelan crude, along with Chevron and Vitol. Indian buyers previously stopped purchasing Venezuelan crude following US sanctions. Now India again resumed purchases in February after more than 10 months, specifically through US-based Chevron and Vitol. "As part of the programme, the Venezuelan delegation will visit several sites connected with energy, pharmaceuticals and auto sectors to gain insights into India’s technological and industrial capabilities and to explore opportunities for collaboration," said MEA in a press briefing. Also Read: Who is Steve Hilton? 5 things to know about the California governor candidate India had usually been reliant on Gulf oil Historicall Indian had been reliant on Gulf oil, with imports from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait. In 2022, with the outbreak of the Russian war in Ukraine and Western sanctions on Moscow, India started to aggressively purchase Russian Urals. Russia shattered the Gulf monopoly by supplying discounted crude and rose to the top of the Indian supplier, capturing over 35-40 per cent of the Indian market. However, as the war in West Asia started, and the effective closure of Hormuz for nearly 80-days, India's residual reliance on Gulf Oil became problematic. Further, India's dependence on irregular waivers from the US to purchase Russian crude hurt the policy of economic nationalism and price pragmatism. Though India maintained a strategic autonomy, India's pivot towards Venezuela is, on one hand, reclaiming the old market, and on the other hand, maintaining a symbolic relationship and assisting Washington to stabilise crude oil prices. However, purchasing Venezuelan crude poses a logistical challenge as it takes more than 20-25 days for shipments to arrive via the Atlantic basin, compared to the 5-7 days of oil transport through the Persian Gulf, along with additional shipping and insurance costs.

Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez begins a five-day India visit focused on energy, trade and investment as New Delhi ramps up crude oil imports from Venezuela amid Middle East supply disruptions.

Indian strategic pivot to Venezuelan oil, as Delcy Rodriguez visits New Delhi

In an unusual move, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday (May 21) announced that the Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodriguez will be travelling to India next week to hold discussions on selling oil. The statement highlights the influence of Washington over Caracas and its oil industry following the ouster of former leader Nicolas Maduro. Rubio’s remarks come ahead of his own planned trip to the country starting Saturday. This comes amid a global energy supply crisis due to the Iran war.“We want to sell them as much energy as they’ll buy,” Rubio said. “We also think there’s opportunities with Venezuelan oil. In fact, it’s my understanding that the interim president of Venezuela will be traveling to India next week as well.”“There’s a lot to work on with India. They’re a great ally, a great partner,” he added.Rodriguez took office after the US military bombed Caracas and captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their presidential palace. Since then, she has maintained close ties with US President Donald Trump’s administration for cooperating with Washington, including by assisting oil companies. Venezuela is home to world’s largest proven oil reserves.Rodriguez is known to have longstanding ties with India, being a follower of late guru Sathya Sai Baba. Known for her spiritual inclinations rooted in India, she has made several visits to Sathya Sai Baba’s ashram, Prasanthi Nilayam in Andhra Pradesh’s Puttaparthi. She visited the ashram in 2019, 2023 and most recently in October 2024. During her October 2024 trip to India, shortly after the BRICS summit in Kazan, Rodríguez met then Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar in New Delhi before making a personal visit to Puttaparthi with her delegation.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez will visit India next week for talks on oil sales, highlighting growing India-Venezuela energy ties.

In an unusual move, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday (May 21) announced that the Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodriguez will be travelling to India next week to hold discussions on selling oil. The statement highlights the influence of Washington over Caracas and its oil industry following the ouster of former leader Nicolas Maduro. Rubio’s remarks come ahead of his own planned trip to the country starting Saturday. This comes amid a global energy supply crisis due to the Iran war. “We want to sell them as much energy as they’ll buy,” Rubio said. “We also think there’s opportunities with Venezuelan oil. In fact, it’s my understanding that the interim president of Venezuela will be traveling to India next week as well.” “There’s a lot to work on with India. They’re a great ally, a great partner,” he added. Rodriguez took office after the US military bombed Caracas and captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their presidential palace. Since then, she has maintained close ties with US President Donald Trump’s administration for cooperating with Washington, including by assisting oil companies. Venezuela is home to world’s largest proven oil reserves. Rodriguez is known to have longstanding ties with India, being a follower of late guru Sathya Sai Baba. Known for her spiritual inclinations rooted in India, she has made several visits to Sathya Sai Baba’s ashram, Prasanthi Nilayam in Andhra Pradesh’s Puttaparthi. She visited the ashram in 2019, 2023 and most recently in October 2024. During her October 2024 trip to India, shortly after the BRICS summit in Kazan, Rodríguez met then Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar in New Delhi before making a personal visit to Puttaparthi with her delegation.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez will visit India next week for talks on oil sales, amid Iran war.

India to buy oil from Venezuela? Rubio announces Rodriguez’s visit next week

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Indian strategic pivot to Venezuelan oil, as Delcy Rodriguez visits New Delhi

India to buy oil from Venezuela? Rubio announces Rodriguez’s visit next week