As the Strait of Hormuz stalls Indian tankers, a South American lifeline grows in strategic importance, opening a high-stakes diplomatic chapter

The visit of Venezuelan Acting-President Delcy Rodríguez is good news for Indian households, as she brings with her the promise of an alternative to Gulf oil that can keep Indian cars running and the wheels of industry turning. Venezuela’s Acting President, heading a high-powered delegation that includes her finance, science and transportation ministers, arrives at a moment when India’s energy calculus has been upended. The near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz —  a corridor that once handled over 40 per cent of India’s crude imports — has forced Indian refiners into a scramble for alternative supplies. Venezuela, sitting atop the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has stepped decisively........

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