This article covers the political relationship between India and Venezuela: its general character, visits by leaders and ministers, contacts between leaders and the Joint Commission. It is based on the MEA brief of May 2026 and reflects the position as of that date.
Character of the relationship
According to the MEA brief of May 2026, India and Venezuela share a history of warm relations and a similarity of views on major international, political and economic issues. The brief states that the partnership extends beyond bilateral cooperation, as both nations collaborate in multilateral forums.
The two countries marked the 66th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2025.
The State Visit of 2005
The brief states that a major thrust was imparted to the relationship by former President Hugo Chavez's State Visit to India on 4-7 March 2005. He held bilateral talks with former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and former President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Six Agreements/MoUs were signed, including on setting up a Joint Commission and cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector.
Visits by Vice President Delcy Rodriguez
At the invitation of the Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, Venezuelan Executive Vice President Dr. Delcy Rodriguez visited India from August 3-5, 2023 to take part in the 9th CII-LAC Conclave. She was accompanied by four other Ministers and a 25-member business delegation.
Vice President Delcy Rodriguez visited Delhi again on 25-26 October 2024. She held discussions with Uprashtraptiji, the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and executives of Reliance Industries Limited.
She returned on 11-14 February 2025 to take part in India Energy Week, with an official delegation that included Coromoto Godoy, Minister of Foreign Trade, and Daniela Cabello Contreras, Vice Minister of Export Promotion. The delegation held discussions with the Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and the Commerce & Industry Minister.
Foreign ministers
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil met the External Affairs Minister on the sidelines of the NAM Summit held at Kampala on 19-20 January 2024, and the two held discussions on issues of mutual interest.
Contact between leaders in 2026
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with Acting President Delcy Rodriguez on 30 January 2026. They discussed bilateral cooperation in the oil and critical minerals sectors.
During the call, Delcy Rodriguez sought India's support for Venezuela's membership in BRICS. The two leaders extended invitations to each other for bilateral visits.
The MEA announced on 02 June 2026 that Acting President Delcy Rodriguez would pay a Working Visit to India from 03 - 07 June 2026, her sixth visit to India, and hold bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Joint Commission
An MOU on the establishment of an Indo-Venezuelan Joint Commission was signed during President Chavez's visit to India in 2005. Shri Rao Inderjit Singh, then Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), led the Indian delegation to the first session of the Joint Commission in Caracas in August 2005.
Venezuela's participation in India's Voice of Global South Summits is described in the cooperation article of this guide.