Washington, Feb 1: India has secured a deal to purchase crude oil from Venezuela, effectively halting its reliance on Iranian imports. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the arrangement while traveling to Palm Beach, Florida, noting that the agreement aligns with broader American interests in managing South American energy assets. The shift follows recent high-level discussions between Indian and American officials regarding global energy security and trade stability. However, the Indian government has not yet issued a formal confirmation regarding the specific details of the trade pivot.
“We’ve already made a deal,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “India is coming in, and they’re going to be buying Venezuelan oil, as opposed to buying it from Iran. So, we’ve already made that deal, the concept of the deal, but China is welcome to come in and buy oil.”
The diplomatic shift gained momentum after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Delcy Rodriguez, the acting president of Venezuela, to discuss expanding the bilateral partnership between the two nations. This cooperation comes at a time of significant transition for Venezuela. Following a January military operation, the U.S. captured President Nicolas Maduro, and President Trump noted that his administration would manage the country’s oil assets during an interim transitional period.
Regarding the ongoing tensions with Tehran, the U.S. President noted that while military assets remain positioned in the region, diplomatic channels remain open. He mentioned that Iranian officials are currently engaged in serious discussions with the United States. “I hope they negotiate something that’s acceptable,” Trump said, adding that any satisfactory deal must ensure the absence of nuclear weapons
