Rodríguez concludes India tour, eyes oil and broader cooperation

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has concluded an official visit to India, emphasizing the potential for Venezuelan oil to enter the Indian market and characterizing the trip as the beginning of a wider cooperation. Rodríguez highlighted opportunities in health, transport, science, technology, and renewable energy during her tour.

"Venezuelan oil arrives here in India, and also how we can, through an agenda of bilateral cooperation, have shared benefits for our countries," Rodríguez stated in an Instagram video. She focused her work agenda on addressing the needs of the Venezuelan people in areas such as healthcare, public transport, science and technology, energy complementarity, and renewable energy.

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Venezuelan oil arrives here in India, and also how we can, through an agenda of bilateral cooperation, have shared benefits for our countries.

Rodríguez expressed gratitude to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for their hospitality. The visit, which began Wednesday, included meetings with India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Rodríguez described India as a "great country, an economic power, but also a spiritual power."

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I leave a part of my heart in India, where we have fulfilled a work agenda that will deepen our relations for the benefit of both peoples.

The tour was largely dominated by discussions on reviving Indian purchases of Venezuelan crude. Venezuela has recently re-emerged as one of India's primary oil suppliers. The Indian government indicated that Venezuela is now a third-party supplier for spot crude purchases, while consultancy firm Kpler data places Venezuela as India's fourth-largest overall supplier in April and May.

The visit also involved a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor. Caracas noted this meeting as a continuation of recent working sessions with U.S. representatives, occurring amid a period where Washington's easing of sanctions has facilitated increased Indian purchases of Venezuelan oil. Rodríguez also toured the Jamnagar refinery, owned by Reliance Industries, and held discussions with the Tata conglomerate in Mumbai regarding renewable energy, urban transport, and investments. Additionally, she visited Prasanthi Nilayam, a spiritual center founded by Sathya Sai Baba, underscoring connections between Chavismo figures and the Indian guru's movement.

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We have successfully concluded our visit to India, a great country, an economic power, but also a spiritual power.