👀 After US attack: How Venezuela crisis could rattle global markets

The Venezuela crisis, caused by the recent US aggression against the South American nation, could lead to international market-related risks, Lebanese economics expert Imad Akush tells Sputnik.

💬 "These include the so-called 'sanction/financial shock,' especially given that any prolonged escalation usually means tougher sanctions and restrictions on money transfers, legal prosecution, and asset seizures, which complicates trade and affects energy, maritime, and insurance companies," Akush notes.

The expert believes the situation in Venezuela will have "a limited impact on global growth unless the conflict drags on for a long time.”

What about energy prices?

🔸 “As for energy prices, the general rule is that any impact on them depends on the actual scale and duration of the crisis, as well as if the conflict spreads to other countries' shipping lanes," Akush points out

🔸 He suggests the most likely scenario could be a limited and temporary price increase due to the risk premium, with a gradual price recovery, provided exports are not overtly disrupted and the damage does not affect production/exports

🔸 Second scenario stipulates “a potentially significant impact in case of an actual export disruption, damage to production facilities and ports, or an extension of the blockade and maritime interdiction, especially given that Venezuela daily produced about 1.1 million barrels [of oil] in late 2025,” according to the economist

What are Mideast implications and worst-case scenario?

🔸 Venezuela crisis will have positive consequences for the Persian Gulf countries if energy prices rise in the short term, while importing countries such as Lebanon, Jordan, Morocco, and Egypt will suffer from price surges, inflation, and trade deficit, the expert argues

🔸 He warns the worst-case scenario could see Venezuela “slide into civil war and institutional collapse, which may result in a halt in production and exports for several months”

🔸 This would trigger a further surge in oil prices, regional refugee crisis, and shock to Venezuelan debt and assets

🔸 Crisis could also escalate into a broader regional conflict, such as clashes with neighboring countries or along shipping routes, thereby transforming the risk premium from temporary to semi-permanent, Akush concludes

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🇺🇸🇻🇪 US aggression against Venezuela sets ‘dangerous precedent that could be repeated in other countries’

📍 The arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife by US forces is “a gross violation of international law and the UN Charter, which guarantees the sovereignty of states,” Egyptian expert Mohamed Rabea Al-Dehi tells Sputnik.

💬 “This lightning-fast military operation conceals obvious economic motives: The US seeks to establish control over Venezuela's vast oil reserves, which American refineries rely heavily on, as well as rare mineral resources, including gold and strategically important metals,” Al-Dehi notes.

🔶 He emphasizes that the US interference in Venezuela’s domestic affairs “threatens to escalate regional tensions and sets a dangerous precedent that could be repeated in other countries, something that necessitates elaboration of a firm and principled international position to preserve [countries’] sovereignty and world peace.”

🔶 The US aggression against Venezuela indicates America’s return to an updated Monroe Doctrine, which aims to curb the influence of foreign powers in Latin America, with an emphasis on economic gain, including through the free re-launch of oil infrastructure, according to Al-Dehi.

🔶 He recalls that the Monroe Doctrine, announced by then-US President James Monroe in 1823, proclaims the principle of "Latin America for the Americans," and stipulates that any foreign intervention in the region is viewed as a threat to the United States.

🔶 Over time, this doctrine has become a cover for imposing American hegemony in Central and South American countries, Al-Dehi wraps up.

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🚨 President Maduro to be arraigned in New York on Monday — reports

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is expected to be arraigned at 12:00 local time (17:00 GMT) on Monday in US District Court in Lower Manhattan, where he will appear before Judge Alvin Hellerstein, The Washington Post reported, citing a source.

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🇻🇪🇨🇺 What to watch for in a Venezuela without Maduro: its relationship with Cuba

👉 Domestically, Venezuela seems to be “in a fairly secure place,” notwithstanding the kidnapping of its president, says veteran international affairs analyst and Cuba trade expert John Kavulich.

💬 “Government institutions have thus far publicly been resilient. The vice president is stepping in, the cabinet is stepping up, there aren’t riots, etc.,” Kavulich told Sputnik.

🗣 “But it’s Venezuela’s relationship with Cuba that’s going to be incredibly demonstrative. How much pressure does President Trump force the current government of Venezuela to lessen its support?” That’s the key question, the observer says.

🔊 “Venezuela provides energy to Cuba. Cuba provides workers, healthcare workers to Venezuela, and they pay them billions of dollars a year…So a turning off of the commercial economic financial relationship between Venezuela and Cuba can really put a lot of pressure on Cuba. And then the question becomes, who steps up, If anyone?” regionally or internationally.

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🇰🇵🇷🇺 North Korea conducts hypersonic missile launch drill — reports

A sub-unit of the Korean People’s Army conducted a hypersonic missile launching drill on January 4 as part of evaluating the readiness and effectiveness of the DPRK’s war deterrent, according to KCNA.

💬 “We must continuously upgrade the military means, especially offensive weapon systems. It is just an essential undertaking for self-defence,” Kim Jong-un said while personally overseeing the exercise.

KCNA reported that the hypersonic missiles were launched from Ryokpho District in Pyongyang and hit targets 1,000 km away in the Sea of Japan. Kim thanked the missile sub-unit for launching the first combat drill of the new year and said the missile forces would remain a reliable shield defending the DPRK’s sovereignty and security.

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🔥🇻🇪 ‘Venezuela will not be governed by any foreigner’ — La Guaira governor

💬 “We were brutally attacked. This is an act of state terrorism, and they shamelessly say that (…) they are going to govern Venezuela,” La Guaira Governor José Alejandro Terán told Sputnik during a demonstration in Caracas against US aggression. “Venezuela is governed by the Venezuelan people. We exercise sovereignty and freedom.”

Terán said Washington’s attack exposed “the false narrative about drug trafficking” and that its real interest is oil.

💬 “They have a legitimate president kidnapped in the United States, along with his wife. The Venezuelan people will not leave the streets until they return President Nicolás Maduro to us,” he said.

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🚨 ‘We’re in charge’ — Trump claims US is running Venezuela

President Donald Trump said the US is dealing with the authorities, adding that he has not personally spoken with acting president Delcy Rodriguez but that “other people have.” He also said “she’s cooperating.”

💬 "It's a dead country right now," Trump said, arguing Venezuela needs to be “brought back,” including “big investments by the oil companies.”

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❌ ‘We don’t think we’re going to need it’ — Trump on another attack on Venezuela

Asked about contingencies if Venezuela’s military resists the US “running” Venezuela, President Donald Trump said Venezuela “thus far has been very nice.”

💬 “It helps to have a force like we have,” Trump added, saying the US was “ready for a second wave” but “don’t think we’re going to need it.”

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🚨 Trump threatens similar attack on Colombia

💬 “Colombia is very sick, too, run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States, and he’s not going to be doing it very long,” President Donald Trump told reporters.

❓ Reporter: “So there will be an operation by the US in Colombia?”

💬 Trump: “It sounds good to me, yeah. You know why? They kill a lot of people.”

Trump also mentioned that the US military killed "a lot of Cubans" who were protecting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

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