Venezuela VP Delcy Rodriguez lands in Delhi for 5-day India visit
Synopsis
Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez landed in New Delhi for a rare five-day engagement — her sixth India trip — bringing five cabinet ministers and a clear signal: Caracas wants India's energy, pharma, and tech footprint to grow, even as Western sanctions on Venezuela persist.
Key Takeaways
Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez arrived in New Delhi on 3 June for a five-day visit.
She will hold bilateral talks with PM Narendra Modi covering energy, trade, pharma, health, transport, and renewables.
The delegation includes Venezuela's Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Economy, Science, Communication, and Transportation.
This is Rodriguez's sixth visit to India, after trips in 2015, 2019, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Indian PSUs hold significant energy-sector investments in Venezuela and are looking to expand their presence.
Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday, 3 June, kicking off a five-day official visit to India that will include bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and high-level engagements across energy, pharmaceuticals, and trade. The visit marks Rodriguez's sixth trip to India and is expected to recalibrate a partnership long anchored in hydrocarbons.
Key agenda of the visit
Rodriguez's discussions with PM Modi will span the full spectrum of India–Venezuela relations, with a focus on energy security, trade and investment, pharmaceuticals, health care, transportation, and renewable energy. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the talks aim to identify fresh avenues for cooperation beyond the traditional oil-centric framework.
‘A warm welcome to Acting President Delcy Rodríguez of Venezuela on her arrival in New Delhi. During her visit, Acting President Delcy Rodriguez will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit will further deepen India–Venezuela ties and build on the momentum in the bilateral partnership,' MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
A high-powered delegation
Rodriguez is accompanied by a heavyweight delegation comprising Venezuela's Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Economy and Finance, Science and Technology, Communication and Information, and Transportation. The composition signals Caracas's intent to push for diversified engagement across multiple economic verticals.
The delegation is scheduled to visit several Indian sites linked to the energy, pharmaceuticals, and auto sectors to study India's technological and industrial capabilities and scout collaboration opportunities.
Energy ties at the core
‘India has been an important partner of Venezuela in the areas of energy and investment. Indian PSUs have made significant investment in Venezuela in the energy sector and they are keen to explore opportunities for further enhancing their presence,' the MEA said in a statement. Indian public-sector oil companies have historically held stakes in Venezuelan crude assets, though sanctions and global price volatility have repeatedly tested the relationship.
A pattern of engagement
This is Rodriguez's sixth visit to India. She previously travelled to New Delhi as Venezuela's Foreign Minister in 2015 and as Vice President in 2019, 2023, 2024, and 2025 — a cadence that underscores Caracas's sustained outreach to New Delhi even as Western capitals have kept the Maduro government at arm's length.
What's next
‘India and Venezuela enjoy warm and friendly relations, underpinned by cooperation in the energy sector, trade, and shared commitment to the Global South. The visit is expected to further strengthen bilateral ties and deepen engagement between the two countries across diverse sectors,' the MEA statement added. Outcomes from the Modi–Rodriguez talks, expected over the coming days, will be closely watched for any movement on fresh energy contracts or pharmaceutical supply arrangements.
Point of View
Caracas needs a reliable non-Western buyer and a partner willing to engage on technology and pharma. India, for its part, gets to keep optionality on heavy crude at a time when Russia discounts are narrowing — but New Delhi will have to weigh every commercial step against secondary-sanctions risk. The Global South framing is convenient; the underlying calculus is cold-eyed energy security.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez visiting India?
Delcy Rodriguez is on a five-day official visit to India starting 3 June to hold bilateral talks with PM Narendra Modi and explore expanded cooperation in energy, trade, pharmaceuticals, health care, transportation, and renewable energy. The MEA has said the visit aims to deepen the India–Venezuela partnership.
How many times has Delcy Rodriguez visited India?
This is Rodriguez's sixth visit to India. She came earlier as Foreign Minister in 2015 and as Vice President in 2019, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Which Venezuelan ministers are part of the delegation?
The delegation includes Venezuela's Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Economy and Finance, Science and Technology, Communication and Information, and Transportation. They will visit Indian sites in the energy, pharmaceuticals, and auto sectors.
What is the state of India–Venezuela energy ties?
India has been a major partner for Venezuela in energy and investment, with Indian PSUs holding significant stakes in Venezuelan energy assets. The MEA has said Indian companies are keen to further enhance their presence in the country.
