When the US launched strikes on Venezuela in January 2026, global energy markets braced for a shock. After all, Venezuela sits on the world's largest proven oil reserves – but its output has been stuck in the slow lane for years due to mismanagement, investment shortfalls and aging infrastructure. 😬
Here's the twist: despite headlines screaming energy crisis, the global oil market today is surprisingly resilient. Right now, there's plenty of supply, demand growth is cooling off, and OPEC+ has a tight grip on production cuts. That means the short-term bump from these strikes is more 'blip on the radar' than 'earthquake'. 🌐
US President Trump has vowed to rally American oil giants back to Venezuela's fields at full throttle, aiming to supercharge output. Sounds epic, but reality check: the country needs massive investment, sanctions must be lifted, timelines are long, political stability is shaky, and local resistance looms large. It's like trying to reboot a vintage gaming console with a power bank – possible, but not without serious hurdles. 👾
Bottom line: while the Venezuela strikes add drama to the energy news cycle, they're unlikely to rewrite the rules of global supply and demand or shake up the world order in the near future. Instead, expect the usual push and pull of market forces, with OPEC+ and big producers keeping things in check. 💡
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Will the US strikes on Venezuela change global energy landscape?
cgtn.com
