New Delhi, June 5 (EFE).- The president in charge of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, held a “courtesy meeting” in New Delhi with the United States ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, during an oil visit that is advancing under the new margin opened by Washington for Venezuelan crude oil.
“The exchange takes place in a scenario of dynamism for Venezuelan diplomacy, which seeks to strengthen its global strategic ties and which gives continuity to the recent work tables and high-level meetings held in Caracas with senior US representatives,” said the Venezuelan presidential note.
The meeting, unusual due to its format, was reported by the Venezuelan Presidency as a “courtesy” for the continuity of the recent work tables and high-level meetings held in Caracas with US representatives.
This comes after the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, announced during his recent visit to India that Rodríguez would travel to the Asian country and linked this trip to the opportunities that Venezuelan oil offers for the Indian market.
After the easing of US sanctions, India resumed purchases of Venezuelan crude oil, which had been paralyzed since May 2025 for fear of punishment from Washington.
The Indian Government stated this week that Venezuela has already become the third supplier in specific purchases of crude oil, while data from the consulting firm Kpler shared with EFE places it as India’s fourth total supplier in April and May, only behind Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Washington has presented Venezuelan crude as an alternative to Russian oil, whose purchases by India have come under US pressure.
During his recent visit to New Delhi, Rubio said the United States wants to sell India “as much energy as they are willing to buy” and added that there are opportunities with Venezuelan oil.
Rubio, however, recently insisted that full normalization with the Government led by Rodríguez will depend on establishing “as soon as possible” the conditions to hold multiparty, free and fair elections.
According to Caracas, the high-level meetings held so far with the United States have addressed energy cooperation, mining and regional stability.
Rodríguez’s agenda in India, which will last until Sunday, includes a stop in Jamnagar to see the Reliance Industries refinery, sources told EFE.
That complex, the largest refining center in the world, is one of the possible key destinations for Venezuelan crude oil, at a time when India is looking for new suppliers due to the energy crisis opened by the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. EFE
