US President Donald Trump has claimed that India has signed an agreement to purchase oil from Venezuela, instead of Iran, a statement that has drawn reactions from opposition leaders and raised questions about India’s energy policy.

The announcement came shortly after Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodriguez held a call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation, including in the energy sector. However, there has been no official confirmation or comment from the Indian government regarding the reported oil deal.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “China is welcome to come in and would make a great deal on oil. We welcome China. We’ve already made a deal. India is coming in, and they’re going to be buying Venezuelan oil as opposed to buying it from Iran. So we’ve already made that deal, the concept of the deal.”

India had stopped buying oil from Iran in 2019 after US sanctions were imposed on Tehran. Similarly, oil imports from Russia have recently been reduced. India also cut back on Venezuelan oil imports following US sanctions in 2017, causing trade between the two nations to drop sharply from $6.4 billion in 2019-20 to just $96 million in 2023-24.

Venezuelan crude now forms a minimal part of India’s oil imports.
The Indian opposition quickly responded to Trump’s statement.

The Congress party shared the audio of Trump’s claim on social media, criticizing the Modi government for allowing foreign leaders to make announcements on India’s policies. “Who gave the United States the right to dictate our national interests? Where is our independent foreign policy?” the party asked.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi echoed the concern, noting that Trump had previously announced developments in India-Pakistan relations and Indian oil imports from Russia. “While the US President looks after his country’s interests, our government appears to be outsourcing India’s national interests. The public deserves clarity on this matter,” she said.