The recent U.S.-led ousting of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in early January 2026 has sent shockwaves through global energy markets and international trade dynamics. Captured during a dramatic operation, Maduro's removal marks a pivotal shift in the Western Hemisphere, redirecting Venezuela's vast oil reserves and other resources toward U.S. interests. Economist E. J. Antoni identifies the winners and losers.

In a dramatic escalation of U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump, American special forces conducted a large-scale military operation in Venezuela early this morning, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The raid, which involved airstrikes on key military and infrastructure sites