By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – US administration on Friday has said it is ready to allow India to buy Venezuelan oil under a new framework, signaling a possible reopening of supplies under Washington’s oversight.
White House said that the United States is prepared to let India buy Venezuelan oil again, signaled a possible shift in how Washington handles crude exports from Caracas.
A senior US administration official confirmed the position, indicated that India, once one of Venezuela’s biggest oil buyers, could regain access under a system tightly controlled by Washington.
Sr. official responded in the affirmative when asked if the US was willing to allow India to purchase Venezuelan oil given its energy needs.
“Yes,” the official replied and added that operational details were still being finalized.
The official pointed to recent comments by US Energy Secretary Christopher Wright, who said Washington was open to selling Venezuelan oil to “almost all countries”.
Wright, in an interview with Fox Business, said Venezuelan crude would be allowed to flow again, but only through a structure designed and overseen by the US government.
“So that oil, we’re allowing it to flow. Again, it’s marketed by the United States government. The money’s gonna flow into accounts,” he said.
He added that the proceeds would be channeled back to Venezuela in a way that “benefits the Venezuelan people, not corruption, not the regime”.
Wright said interest in Venezuelan crude was strong across the world. Buyers in the United States, Europe and Asia were keen, he noted, underlining that sales would not be restricted to a small group of countries.
Many US refineries, he added, were originally built to process Venezuelan oil. Demand remains high.
The Energy Secretary framed the move as part of a wider strategy under President Donald Trump to enforce sanctions while reshaping Venezuela’s oil sector.
“You can sell oil together with the United States, or you cannot,” Wright said.
He explained US control over oil flows and revenues as leverage against criminal activity and destabilizing behaviour associated with previous Venezuelan leadership.
Enforcement, he stressed, would be strict. While talking about recent seizures of sanctioned oil tankers, Wright said US actions showed that sanctions would be actively implemented.
“Only legitimate and lawful energy commerce, as determined by the US, will be permitted,” he said when asked about action against vessels operating outside the new system.
Wright said Washington plans to market between 30 million and 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil currently in storage at a separate energy conference in New York. Future production would follow.
“We’re gonna get that crude moving again and sell it,” he said.
He added that the US would also supply diluent and allow imports of parts and equipment to stabilize and later increase production.
The officials are in talks with oil companies that once operated in Venezuela, as well as firms interested in returning.
“What are the conditions that’ll make capital flow?” Wright asked, called it an ongoing discussion involving governments and industry.
India was a major buyer of Venezuelan crude before sanctions disrupted trade feeding complex refineries built to handle heavy oil.
Renewed access could help New Delhi diversify supplies at a time of sustained demand growth.
Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, even as India remains one of the fastest-growing energy consumers globally and heavily dependent on imports.
