US offers India Venezuelan oil instead of Russian — Reuters
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
In 2025, the US imposed tariffs on India for purchasing Venezuelan oil. Now, Washington has told Delhi it may allow these purchases again to help replace Russian oil imports, Reuters reports.
According to the media, India had agreed to sharply reduce its purchases of Russian oil after the US raised tariffs. In March 2025, US President Donald Trump imposed 25% tariffs on countries buying Venezuelan oil.
Following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, the US began effectively managing the Caracas government and intends to control the country's oil industry for an indefinite period.
The media outlet notes that Washington's efforts to supply Venezuelan oil to India are part of its strategy to cut Russian oil revenues that fund Moscow's war in Ukraine.
However, the sources did not specify whether Venezuelan oil would be sold through third-party trading companies, such as Vitol or Trafigura, or directly via the state-owned Venezuelan oil company PDVSA.
Two sources said India would soon reduce Russian oil imports to below 1 million barrels per day.
The production stands at around 1.2 million barrels per day in January. One source forecasts reductions to 1 million barrels in February and 800,000 barrels in March.
Another source expects imports eventually to fall to roughly 500,000–600,000 barrels per day, helping India finalize a trade deal with the US.
