Relations between Venezuela, an important oil supplier to the United States, and Washington have remained strained ever since.

FORBES: Hugo Chavez's Death Leaves Leadership Vacuum In Venezuela

The US shares very close relations with the rulers of Saudi Arabia and seldom exposes the world's biggest oil supplier to overt criticism.

BBC: NEWS | Middle East | US hails Saudi dissidents' pardon

India--the world's biggest defense importer--has of late placed orders worth several billions of dollars with the U.S. partly due to growing relations between the two democracies and also as part of attempts to diversify its reliance on longtime supplier--Russia.

WSJ: India, Boeing in Talks for Helicopter Deals