PM Modi hold talks with acting Venezuela President amid US tensions, says 'Taking ties to new heights'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke with Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez and agreed to deepen ties and take them to "new heights" in the years ahead amid tensions with the US. This is the first interaction between PM Modi and Rodriguez following the dramatic capture of long-time autocratic President Nicolas Maduro in an overnight US military operation on January 3.

"Spoke with Acting President of Venezuela, Ms Delcy Rodriguez. 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," PM Modi tweeted.

In an official statement, PM Modi received a phone call from



Rodriguez. The two leaders agreed to further expand and deepen the India-Venezuela partnership in all areas, including trade and investment, energy, digital technology, health, agriculture and people-to-people ties.

Both leaders exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest and underscored the importance of their close cooperation for the Global South.

The PM Modi-Rodriguez talks assume significance as US President Donald Trump eyes Venezuelan crude oil reserves and threatens tariffs on countries not reaching a trade deal with countries, including India. Currently, Washington has imposed a total of 50 per cent tariffs on New Delhi over its Russian crude oil imports.