Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Acting President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez, held a telephonic conversation on Friday, agreeing to further expand and deepen the bilateral partnership between their countries across a wide range of sectors. According to a statement issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the leaders discussed strengthening cooperation in trade and investment, energy, digital technology, health, agriculture and people-to-people ties. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, stressing the importance of enhanced cooperation within the Global South.

The talks mark the highest-level engagement between New Delhi and Caracas since recent political developments in Venezuela, where Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president earlier this month. India has maintained diplomatic relations with Venezuela for decades, with cooperation spanning diplomatic, economic and cultural channels.