Venezuela's Delcy Rodríguez visits India for oil diversification talks
Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodríguez met India's Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in New Delhi as part of Delhi's energy diversification push. The talks focused on a framework for a long-term crude supply agreement.
BBC Latin AmericaVenezuela Vice President Delcy Rodríguez's four-day India visit aligns with Delhi's push to diversify energy supply sources. The centerpiece was a framework supply discussion with India's Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Rodríguez also met Reliance Industries CEO Mukesh Ambani.
Reliance Industries had stayed away from Venezuelan crude since 2024 under US sanctions exposure. US Treasury spokesperson Lily Adams said Washington 'closely monitors any commercial arrangement that may breach the sanctions regime.' India's External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal responded that 'Delhi evaluates energy security on its own independent interests.'
Observer Research Foundation analyst Lydia Powell assessed that 'even without immediate operational outcome, the talks fit Delhi's non-Russia diversification strategy.' By contrast, CSIS's Ben Cahill said 'Reliance and Indian Oil will not sign without first weighing the sanctions risk.' A joint communiqué is expected tomorrow. Diplomatic framing only.
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