Washington, DC | New Delhi, India | February 1, 2026
India is set to purchase crude oil from Venezuela, according to a major claim made by US President Donald Trump, following Washington’s move to assert control over Venezuelan oil reserves.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said that India has already agreed to buy Venezuelan oil and that the framework of the deal has been finalized. The statement comes amid shifting global energy alignments and renewed US involvement in Venezuela’s oil sector.
🛢️ Trump Claims India Will Buy Venezuelan Oil Instead of Iranian Crude
On Sunday, February 1, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling to Florida that India would import crude oil from Venezuela instead of Iran.
“We’ve already made the deal. India is getting involved, and they will buy oil from Venezuela rather than Iran. The framework of the agreement is already in place,” Trump said.
Trump repeated his assertion multiple times, emphasizing that the agreement concept had been finalized. However, no official confirmation or response has yet been issued by the Indian government regarding Trump’s remarks.
🌎 Background: Venezuela–India Engagement Gains Momentum
The statement comes shortly after Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez held a phone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The call marked Venezuela’s first engagement with India following recent US actions against President Nicolás Maduro. According to official statements, the two leaders discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors, including energy.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said both sides agreed to deepen and expand India–Venezuela partnership in the coming years.
🇨🇳 China Also Invited to Buy Venezuelan Oil
Trump also extended an invitation to China to participate in Venezuelan oil purchases.
“China is welcome to come in and make a great oil deal as well. We’ve already made one deal with India,” Trump said.
Earlier, Trump had revealed that Venezuela offered Washington 50 million barrels of oil valued at $52 billion, an offer he said the US had accepted.
🏛️ Congress Targets Modi Government Over Trump’s Claims
Trump’s remarks have triggered political reactions in India. The opposition Indian National Congress questioned why major foreign policy developments involving India are being announced by US leaders instead of the Indian government.
Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh shared an audio clip of Trump’s statement on X and criticized the situation.
“President Trump keeps informing us about what our own government has done or is going to do. First Russia, then Operation Sindoor, and now this,” Ramesh wrote.
He added that such disclosures raise serious questions about transparency and communication from the Indian government.
🔎 No Official Indian Response Yet
As of now, New Delhi has not issued any official clarification or confirmation regarding Trump’s claims about India importing Venezuelan oil. Analysts note that any such move would have significant implications for India’s energy security strategy, sanctions compliance, and geopolitical balancing.
