PM Modi, Venezuela's Rodríguez Vow to Expand Partnership Amid US Tensions

• PM Modi spoke with Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, pledging to deepen and expand bilateral cooperation.
• Rodríguez assumed interim presidency after former President Nicolás Maduro's capture by the US on "narco-terrorism" charges.
• The conversation holds strategic significance as the US eyes Venezuelan crude and has threatened tariffs on countries, including India, over trade directives.
• The White House may allow India to buy Venezuelan oil under a new US-controlled framework, potentially reopening a stalled trade channel.
• US officials confirm Venezuelan crude exports would be tightly regulated, marketed by the US government, with payments to controlled accounts.

Why It Matters: India and Venezuela aim to strengthen ties, navigating complex US sanctions and energy trade dynamics.