Reliance Industries is reportedly purchasing Venezuelan crude oil from the United States, a move an expert suggests will incur higher costs than Middle Eastern imports. Brahma Chellaney, an expert at the Centre for Policy Research, stated these purchases may serve as a political signal to the Trump administration. The oil will be sold at market value, with proceeds deposited into U.S.-controlled accounts, a system critics have labeled a potential 'slush fund' due to concerns about congressional oversight.