Venezuela’s Rodriguez to discuss energy ties during India visit from June 3-7

(Reuters) - Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez will visit India from June 3 to June 7, India's foreign ministry said on Tuesday, at a time when New Delhi is ramping up ​its crude imports from Caracas.

India was the second-largest importer of Venezuelan oil in May ​with purchases of 427,000 barrels per day, second only to the ⁠U.S., Reuters reported. India's Reliance Industries (RELI.NS), opens new tab has emerged as one of the three largest buyers of Venezuelan ​crude in recent months.

During her visit, Rodriguez will hold talks with Indian Prime Minister ​Narendra Modi, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a media briefing.

"The discussions will involve the full spectrum of India-Venezuela relations and involve and explore avenues for further cooperation in the areas of ​energy, trade, investment, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, transportation, and renewable energy," Jaiswal said.

She is also ​expected to meet top Indian energy industry leaders in financial capital Mumbai, an Indian source said.

Rodriguez last ‌visited ⁠India in February 2025 when she was Venezuela's oil minister, and led a delegation participating in the India Energy Week conference.

Her visit comes as India, the world's third-largest oil importer and consumer, grapples with supply disruptions caused by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, ​which has virtually shut ​the Strait of ⁠Hormuz – a key conduit that carried more than 40% of the South Asian nation's crude oil imports.

India had stopped buying Venezuelan oil ​last year, after U.S. President Donald Trump authorized a 25% ​discretionary tariff ⁠on countries buying crude from the South American nation. It resumed purchases when sanctions were eased in February following a flagship oil supply pact between Washington and Caracas.

Under the agreement, reached ⁠after ​the U.S. capture of President Nicolas Maduro in January, ​Washington controls proceeds from Venezuelan oil sales through bank accounts administered by the Treasury Department, with commercial ​terms also following its guidance.