🌍 Venezuela Is Just the Beginning — Strategic Energy Shift Underway
The recent U.S. intervention in Venezuela and its pivot toward capturing and exporting Venezuelan oil isn’t just about one leader — it reflects a wider strategic recalibration of energy influence in global markets. Recent reporting shows Washington is redirecting Venezuelan crude toward U.S. refineries, potentially diverting barrels historically shipped to China. �
Reuters +1
📌 Key Strategic Themes: • U.S. influence on Venezuela’s oil sector increases, with Chevron the main Western exporter while shipments to China have stalled. �
• This pivot reduces China’s access to Venezuelan crude — which previously supplied roughly 4% of its imports. �
• Venezuela contains one of the largest proven oil reserves globally, giving its energy flows outsized geopolitical importance. �
• Russia and China have condemned U.S. actions in Venezuela, highlighting tensions over energy, sovereignty, and influence. �
OilPrice.com
OilPrice.com
FastBull
The Washington Post
📍 Broader Energy Chokepoints • The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical oil transit route — roughly 20% of daily global oil flows through it — meaning regional tension here could disrupt markets. �
• Control over key supply routes such as Hormuz and the Red Sea corridors continues to shape great‑power competition.
China Daily
📊 Takeaway:
The U.S. move in Venezuela is part of a wider geopolitical energy play — not just a single policy action. By redirecting oil flows and tightening control over supply networks, Washington is seeking to influence global energy supply, shaping China’s access to key oil sources while reinforcing Western leverage in critical trade routes and markets.
#EnergyGeopolitics #OilMarkets #Venezuela #USChina
#StraitOfHormuz #GlobalSupplyChains