Name? Dharmendra Pradhan
Westphalian identity? Indian
Age? 51
Why is he in the news? Pradhan is the current Cabinet Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel in the Indian Government. As such, he recently emphasized India’s desire to once again diversify its oil imports to include oil from both Iran and Venezuela, countries with heavy unilateral sanctions imposed by the U.S.
Why do we care? One of the most basic principles of politics: Where there is oil, there is money. Where there is money, there is personal interest..sorry we mean there is foreign policy and politics.
Why should you care? You have enough things to worry about already, sit this one out and just know that it is happening.
Who else cares? Venezuela (aka Maduro). The current US sanctions have cost Venezuela billions of dollars and more than 95% of the country’s export revenues; exacerbating the economic and humanitarian crisis in the nation. Furthermore, Maduro also needs money to pay the military in order to remain in power.
Any further comments? “As a buyer, I would like to have more buying places. I should have more destinations to go for purchasing (oil).” Pradhan is not alone in this sentiment as other countries such as China, Turkey, Japan and South Korea; who along with India have continued to import oil from Iran, would also stand to benefit economically and politically if the US lifts its current sanctions. The US had granted these 5 countries permission to wrap up their Irani oil purchases last year when oil was tight. But now, the US says supplies are plentiful and thus, these countries have no reason to continue importing from Tehran (or Caracas). Pradhan knows this which is why he (the Indian government) has stayed quiet until the Biden administration began to transition into power.
