Trump: India will soon purchase Venezuelan oil
According to Reuters, U.S. President Trump said on Saturday, January 31, that India would purchase Venezuelan oil, thus avoiding imports from Iran. He also stated that China could reach an agreement with the United States to invest in Venezuelan oil.
"We have reached an agreement, or a draft of an agreement," Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he traveled from Washington to his vacation villa in Florida.
Reuters reported on Friday that the United States had informed New Delhi that it may soon be able to resume purchasing Venezuelan oil, helping to replace Russian oil imports. The report cited three informed sources.
Due to U.S. sanctions, India had not imported large quantities of Iranian oil previously, but after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 triggered Western sanctions and led to a drop in Russian oil prices, India became a major buyer of Russian oil.
Trump raised tariffs on Indian imports to 50% in August to force New Delhi to stop buying Russian oil. Early this month, Trump said that if India did not reduce its purchases of Russian oil, the tariff rate might be increased again.
However, Finance Minister Bentsen said in January that due to a significant decrease in India's imports of Russian oil, the additional 25% tariff on Indian goods may be lifted.
Trump imposed a 25% tariff on countries that purchase Venezuelan oil in March 2025 and threatened last year to impose the same tariff on India. This week, the U.S. government lifted some sanctions on the Venezuelan oil industry to make it easier for U.S. companies to sell Venezuelan crude oil.
Trump's remarks on Saturday seem to reflect the ongoing improvement in U.S.-India relations, which have been tense over the past year.
Trump also said that China could reach an agreement with the United States to invest in Venezuelan oil.
"We welcome China's participation; China can make a good deal on oil," Trump said, but provided no details.
Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves and has amended its laws this week to open up the oil industry to private and foreign investment.
Under Maduro's leadership, China has been Venezuela's main oil buyer. On January 3, Maduro was arrested by U.S. troops, a move condemned by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, making Beijing's future relationship with Caracas uncertain.
Source: rfi
Original: toutiao.com/article/1855982884503753/
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