This news article analyses whether the political-military crisis in Venezuela and U.S. actions will affect India’s energy security. on 3 January 2026, the United States attacked Venezuela, capturing Venezuelan disputed president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. This attack by United Nation was named as Operation Absolute Resolve and bombarded different regions in Venezuela
Background: India and Venezuela trade
Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves. and in the past, Venezuela was the major crude oil supplier to India. In 2013, India imported about $13billion worth of oil from Venezuela. In the current financial year India imported only $255.3 million worth of Venezuelan oil. This is just 0.3% of India’s total oil imports. The reason behind the India reduced oil imports from Venezuela lies in U.S. sanction. since 2019, the United States imposed economic sanctions on Venezuela. These include primary sanctions on Venezuelan entities and Secondary sanctions on countries trading with Venezuela. So, to avoid penalties and financial risk, India gradually reduced oil imports and commercial engagement in Venezuela.
Impact of Venezuela crisis on India
According to trade experts, this crisis led in the low volume trade with Venezuela and already existing sanctions already limit trade, beside that there is a large geographical distance between India and Venezuela. As the solution of this India has diversified its oil import basket. so, India’s energy security will not be meaningfully affected. This view was supported by Ajay Srivastava of the global trade research initiative. Venezuela is a member of Organization of the petroleum exporting countries (OPEC). However, Venezuela contributes only 3.5% of OPEC’s oil exports. It supplies only about 1% of global oil production. Therefore, even disruption in Venezuela do not significantly disturb global oil supply or prices.
Heavy crude oil problem
Venezuelan oil is mostly heavy crude as it is thick and difficult to refine, and it requires specialized refineries. most countries (including India) lack adequate refining capacity for such oil. As a result, Venezuela’s oil exports are limited, and China is currently the main buyer as they have the technology to refine this thick crude oil. After recent U.S. military actions, Donald Trump stated that the U.S. would take over Venezuela’s oil supply. It also proposed rebuilding oil infrastructure through private oil companies. This reflects the strategic importance of energy resources. They are using energy as a tool of geopolitical influence.
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