Venezuelan Oil For India? US Offer Comes With Conditions As Pressure Grows Over Russian Crude

Washington is opening a new energy door for India, but it comes with tight conditions. The United States has indicated that it is willing to let India buy Venezuelan oil under a US-controlled system, even as it continues to pressure New Delhi over its purchases of Russian crude. The offer follows a dramatic shift in US-Venezuela dynamics, with Washington moving to market Venezuelan oil globally while keeping strict control over revenues and enforcement. India, which once ranked among Venezuela’s biggest buyers, has the refinery capacity to absorb heavy crude. Access could help diversify supplies as India’s energy demand rises. But US officials have made their position clear: only oil flows approved by Washington will be considered legitimate. Anything outside that framework could face sanctions or seizures. For New Delhi, this is about more than supply. It is a test of how far strategic autonomy can be preserved in an increasingly politicised global energy market.