India, Venezuela To Work On Common Roadmap To Relaunch Relations In 2026: Acting President Rodriguez Dials PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held his first conversation with Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodríguez on Friday (January 30, 2026), signalling a possible recalibration of ties between New Delhi and Caracas at a time of sharp geopolitical churn following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by US forces earlier this month.

The outreach also comes at a time when Venezuela itself is navigating a political transition and as global powers reassess their engagement with the oil-rich Latin American nation.

PM Modi-Delcy Rodríguez call: What did they discuss?

In a post on X after the call, Prime Minister Modi said the two leaders agreed to deepen and expand bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors. “We agreed to further deepen and expand our bilateral partnership in all areas, with a shared vision of taking India-Venezuela relations to new heights in the years ahead,” Modi said.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the discussion covered cooperation in trade and investment, energy, digital technology, health, agriculture, and people-to-people exchanges, with both sides expressing interest in maintaining regular contact.

While agreeing to remain in touch, the two leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest and underscored the importance of their close cooperation for the Global South.

India-Venezuela to relaunch relations in 2026

Venezuela’s acting President thanked the Indian Government and the people of India for their supportive solidarity with our country. Prime Minister Modi reiterated the willingness to accompany the Venezuelan people in the defense of their peace, sovereignty, and independence.

“We addressed strategic cooperation in energy, agriculture, science and technology, the pharmaceutical industry, mining, the automotive sector, and tourism; and we agreed to move forward on a common roadmap to relaunch our relations in 2026,” Delcy Rodriguez added.

Why does this conversation matters now?

The timing of the call is significant. It marks the first interaction between PM Modi and Rodríguez since she assumed the role of acting president on January 5, 2026 just days after long-time Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was seized by US authorities and transferred to New York to face trial.

With Venezuela undergoing a political reset and facing renewed international scrutiny, India’s engagement signals a measured and pragmatic approach, focused on continuity, stability and long-term partnership rather than personalities.

How have India-Venezuela ties evolved over the years?

Both countries share a similarity of views on major international, political and economic issues, with their partnership extending beyond bilateral cooperation. India and Venezuela also marked the 65th Anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations in 2024. Resident Embassies have been in Caracas and New Delhi for over four decades.

India and Venezuela have traditionally shared warm and cooperative relations, anchored by energy ties, with Venezuela once being a key crude oil supplier to India. They also have a strong collaboration in pharmaceuticals, agriculture and infrastructure; support for South-South cooperation in multilateral forums.

While US sanctions and Venezuela’s internal turmoil slowed engagement in recent years, diplomatic channels between New Delhi and Caracas have remained open.

How did India react to Maduro’s capture?

Following the US capture of Maduro earlier this month, India had expressed “deep concern” over the situation, reaffirming its support to the well-being of the people of Venezuela.

“India reaffirms its support to the well-being and safety of the people of Venezuela. We call upon all concerned to address issues peacefully through dialogue, ensuring peace and stability of the region. The Embassy of India in Caracas is in contact with members of the Indian community and will continue to provide all possible assistance”, the MEA had said.

Meanwhile, PM Modi’s latest dialogue with Venezuela’s acting President reflects India’s broader foreign policy approach of maintaining dialogue with transitional governments while keeping economic and strategic interests intact. Moreover, both sides have agreed to remain in touch, raising expectations of follow-up engagements at diplomatic or ministerial levels.