Trump signals shift as India set to buy Venezuelan oil, not Iranian crude

US President Donald Trump recently said India will buy oil from Venezuela instead of Iran, signalling a shift in New Delhi’s energy sourcing as Washington presses key partners to realign their crude imports.

“We’ve already made that deal, the concept of the deal,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while travelling from Washington to Florida, according to Reuters.

The remarks came a day after the United States informed India that it could soon resume purchases of Venezuelan crude, three people familiar with the matter said. The move is aimed at helping New Delhi replace Russian oil imports, which are expected to fall sharply under mounting US pressure.

Trump added that China, too, was free to strike a similar arrangement with Washington to buy Venezuelan oil. “We’re open to China doing a deal as well,” he said.

The United States had imposed 25% tariffs in March last year on countries purchasing Venezuelan oil, including India, as part of its effort to isolate the Nicolás Maduro government.

The latest signals suggest a recalibration of that stance, with Venezuelan crude now being positioned as an alternative for countries looking to reduce dependence on Russian and Iranian supplies.