NEW DELHI. India and Venezuela held high-level talks on Thursday aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation. The discussions focused heavily on securing energy safety and expanding economic engagement across multiple critical sectors. The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted a strong potential to forge a long-term energy partnership. Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodriguez arrived in New Delhi on June 3 for a five-day working visit. The visit aims to deepen the India-Venezuela bilateral partnership and build on current diplomatic momentum. Rodriguez is accompanied by a large high-level ministerial delegation representing diverse economic and political portfolios.
Wide-Ranging Bilateral Talks and Global South Interests
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held substantive, wide-ranging discussions with Acting President Delcy Rodriguez in New Delhi. The leaders reviewed the full spectrum of the India-Venezuela bilateral partnership at Hyderabad House. The official deliberations explored new avenues of cooperation in energy, trade, investment, healthcare, and automobiles. Both sides exchanged views on global and regional issues of mutual interest during the sessions. Furthermore, the leaders reaffirmed their joint commitment to advancing the shared interests of the Global South. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also called on Rodriguez to reiterate India’s commitment to stronger relations.
Upstream and Downstream Energy Complementarity
Speaking at a special media briefing, MEA Secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon provided insights into the meetings. Tandon highlighted that Venezuela has emerged as India’s third-largest supplier of crude oil. He noted a perfect complementarity for both nations to work together in the energy sector. This collaboration spans across both upstream and downstream operations to maximize mutual commercial benefits. Venezuela explicitly views India as a stable and highly reliable demand partner for the long term. Indian public sector companies maintain active investments in Venezuela and wish to expand their presence. This foundational connection remains a key pillar of the India-Venezuela bilateral partnership.
Broadening Economic Ties and Industrial Visits
The high-level discussions also explored unique opportunities to broaden economic ties well beyond the energy sector. Tandon described Venezuela as a resource-rich country currently exhibiting signs of sustained economic growth. New avenues for cooperation exist in mining, animal husbandry, transportation, agricultural equipment, and pharmaceuticals. The visiting ministerial delegation will personally tour facilities linked to India’s energy and automobile sectors. These site visits aim to explore collaborations and gain insights into domestic technological capabilities. Promoting these new business partnerships will ultimately diversify the India-Venezuela bilateral partnership.
Homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat during her visit. She highlighted the supreme importance of Gandhian values in fostering deep cross-border ties. The Ministry of External Affairs described Gandhi’s enduring legacy as an inspiration for bilateral cooperation. Tandon added that the entire engagement was highly businesslike, substantive, and marked by mutual understanding. The Venezuelan delegation formally acknowledged India’s steady support during both challenging and favourable historical periods. Consequently, Venezuela views India as a highly preferred strategic partner for all future endeavors.
India-Venezuela High-Level Bilateral Review
| Operational Parameter | Official Strategic Details |
| Visiting Dignitary | Acting President Delcy Rodriguez of Venezuela. |
| Primary Metric | India-Venezuela bilateral partnership. |
| Indian Leadership | PM Narendra Modi & EAM S. Jaishankar. |
| Energy Rank | Venezuela is India’s third-largest crude oil supplier. |
| Core Sectors Reviewed | Energy, Trade, Investment, Healthcare, and Automobiles. |
| Global Alignment | Reaffirming commitment to advance the Global South. |
| Delegation Focus | Mining, Transportation, Agro-equipment, and Pharma. |
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