“Local media reports called it "Trump's big claim," while noting that there has been no immediate reaction from New Delhi over the alleged "purchase."”

“Hindustan Times reported that Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodríguez dialed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday to discuss the deepening of bilateral cooperation, including in energy, trade and investment - the first contact from the Venezuelan side with India at the leadership level since the seizure of Nicolas Maduro.”

“"Spoke with Acting President of Venezuela, Ms. Delcy Rodríguez. We agreed to further deepen and expand our bilateral partnership in all areas, with a shared vision of taking India-Venezuela relations to new heights in the years ahead," Modi said on social media after the phone call.”

“Hindustan Times said the US has repeatedly attacked India's oil purchases dominated by Russia and imposed tariffs on Indian imports, a move New Delhi slammed as "unjustified."”

“According to Reuters, New Delhi stopped loading oil from Iran in 2019 due to US sanctions over Tehran's nuclear program, and also stopped buying oil from Caracas last year after Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on countries buying Venezuelan oil.”

“Indian refiners turned to US oil to make up for the loss of Iranian supply, then curbed US purchases and became the top buyer of Russian seaborne oil sold at a discount after Western nations imposed sanctions on Moscow, according to Reuters.”

“However, Trump in August last year doubled duties on imports from India to 50 percent to pressure New Delhi to stop buying Russian oil, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled in January that the additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods could be removed, given what he called a sharp reduction in Indian imports of Russian oil, per media reports.”