Key Takeaways
- US President Donald Trump stated India will buy oil from Venezuela, not Iran, after US sanctions waivers end.
- Trump defended ending waivers for India, China, and Turkey, urging them to “wean off” Iranian oil.
- He highlighted India as a “great friend” and discussed a wide-ranging call with PM Modi, with upcoming meetings at G7 and G20 summits.
US President Donald Trump has indicated a significant shift in India’s oil imports, suggesting the country will turn to Venezuela instead of Iran following the end of US sanctions waivers.
“India will take oil from Venezuela. They are very friendly with Venezuela,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday. He was defending his administration’s decision to terminate exemptions that allowed countries like India, China, and Turkey to purchase Iranian oil despite US sanctions.
End of Sanctions Waivers
Trump asserted the US, as the world’s top energy producer, would not dictate terms but had given a “short period of time” for these nations to stop buying from Iran. “After that you will not be buying,” he said.
He elaborated, “India is not going to buy (oil) from Iran. They are going to buy it from other countries. They are going to buy it from Saudi Arabia, they are going to buy it from other countries. They may buy it from Venezuela.”
US-India Relations and Diplomacy
Trump repeatedly praised India, calling it a “great country” and a “great friend” of the United States. This comes after a “great talk” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday night.
“We talked about many things. We talked about Iran. We talked about Afghanistan. We talked about trade. We talked about just about everything,” Trump said.
The two leaders are set to meet twice in the coming months: at the G7 Summit in France next month and at the G20 Summit in Japan in June. Trump expressed confidence about these engagements, stating they would have “very good meetings” and a “very good relationship.”
