DistantNews
Support us
🇻🇪 Venezuela /Elections & Politics

Venezuela's Delcy Rodríguez Meets U.S. Ambassador in India Amid Oil Dealings

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • Venezuelan acting president Delcy Rodríguez met with the U.S. ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, in New Delhi.
  • The meeting occurred during Rodríguez's five-day visit focused on energy cooperation, following U.S. sanctions relief for Venezuelan oil.
  • India has resumed Venezuelan crude oil imports, becoming its fourth-largest supplier in May, with Venezuela positioning its oil as an alternative to Russian crude.

Venezuelan acting president Delcy Rodríguez met with U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor in New Delhi on Friday. The encounter took place during Rodríguez's five-day trip to India, which centers on energy cooperation following the U.S. decision to ease sanctions on Venezuelan oil. The Venezuelan presidency described the meeting as a courtesy call to continue high-level discussions previously held in Caracas with U.S. representatives.

The exchange takes place in a dynamic scenario for Venezuelan diplomacy, which seeks to strengthen its global strategic ties and continues the recent working groups and high-level meetings held in Caracas with high-level U.S. representatives.

— Venezuelan PresidencyDescribing the meeting between Delcy Rodríguez and the U.S. ambassador to India.

This meeting occurs as Venezuela seeks to strengthen global strategic ties. India has significantly increased its imports of Venezuelan crude oil in May, reaching 319,200 barrels per day. This surge has positioned Venezuela as India's fourth-largest oil supplier for the month, behind Russia, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. India had previously halted Venezuelan crude purchases in May 2025 due to concerns over U.S. sanctions.

U.S. officials have presented Venezuelan oil as an alternative to Russian crude, which India has been pressured to reduce. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently stated that the U.S. supports India purchasing "as much energy as they are willing to buy" from Venezuela. However, Rubio reiterated that full normalization with Rodríguez's government hinges on the establishment of conditions for free and fair multi-party elections.

The United States wants to sell India as much energy as they are willing to buy, and there are opportunities with Venezuelan oil.

— Marco RubioU.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's remarks on energy cooperation with India during his visit to New Delhi.

Rodríguez's agenda in India, extending until Sunday, includes a visit to the Reliance Industries refinery in Jamnagar. This facility is considered a key potential destination for Venezuelan crude, especially as India seeks new suppliers amid energy supply concerns related to the Strait of Hormuz.

as soon as possible

— Marco RubioReferring to the conditions for holding free and fair multi-party elections, which Rubio stated are necessary for full normalization with Venezuela's government.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog