The US is "actively negotiating" with India, hoping to persuade this country to import Venezuelan oil instead of Russian oil.
The US has licensed 2 oil distribution companies producing oil in Venezuela after arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in early January 2026 and reached an oil supply agreement with interim President Delcy Rodriguez.
Washington is using trade negotiations to persuade New Delhi to abandon oil supplies from Russia. India and China have become major customers for Russian crude oil after the US and EU imposed sanctions on Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine.
US Ambassador to New Delhi Sergio Gor shared with the press on February 20 that: "The US Department of Energy is discussing with the Indian Department of Energy" about buying oil from Venezuela, and "we hope to have news about this soon".
In early February, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order repealing the 25% tariff imposed on India in August 2025 due to oil imports from Russia. Mr. Trump said this move was made after New Delhi "agreed to stop" purchasing goods from Moscow.
Regarding the oil issue, there has been an agreement... We have seen India diversify its oil sources. There is a commitment. The issue is not about India. The US does not want anyone to buy oil from Russia" - Ambassador Sergio Gor said.
New Delhi has never confirmed its commitment to Washington about abandoning Russian oil. At the Munich Security Conference last week, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said that Indian leaders pursue "strategic autonomy" and make decisions in the energy sector that "they feel are for their best interests", based on cost and risk analysis.
Russia also said there was no information about India temporarily suspending crude oil imports from Russia. This week, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters that oil purchases were driven by commercial feasibility. "I think neither we nor you have reason to believe that India has changed its approach" - she emphasized.
