Proximity matters: 5 things to know about America’s sphere of influence | Metals Mine

  • Proximity matters: 5 things to know about America’s sphere of influence

    From privatebank.jpmorgan.com

    A fragmented world is reshuffling priorities—and security is back on top. In the first two weeks of the year, the United States carried out a dramatic operation in Venezuela, spotlighted Greenland as a strategic imperative and seemed to consider potential action in Iran. Put together, these actions signal a fundamental shift: proximity matters. History has a name for this mindset. The Monroe Doctrine once drew the line in the Western Hemisphere—positioning the United States as its dominant power. Though today’s context is different, the logic holds: Secure the perimeter, reduce spillovers and limit external ... (full story)

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Trader#B749
Jan 16, 2026 3:34pm
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It's more like taking back what Maduro stole from the US oil companies.

From the discovery of major fields in the early 20th century, international — especially U.S. — oil companies financed and operated much of Venezuela’s nascent industry, effectively shaping production, export patterns and upstream infrastructure that would make Venezuela a top global supplier in the mid‑20th century.

The Venezuelan government’s formal nationalization on January 1, 1976, transferred control to state‑owned PDVSA and left U.S. affiliates like Exxon, Gulf and Mobil with only marginal compensation despite having collectively invested billions — Wikipedia summarizes those firms as having more than $5 billion at stake during nationalization
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Trader#79EF
Jan 16, 2026 1:55pm
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...Venezuela is evidence that the United States will put muscle behind its words...

Hahahaha. What a load of bullshit. Trump even TACO'ed Venezuela. This was his plan:

1) Take Maduro
2) ????

Oh that's right, the oil. Which he's only plundered like a pirate from afar. Oil companies are not rushing into their certain death in a hostile environment that the US government itself has issued travel advisories against - https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...Venezuela.html

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Do not travel to or remain in Venezuela due to the high risk of wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure. All U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents in Venezuela are strongly advised to depart immediately

Everything this orange clown does is riddled with clumsiness, lack of fore/afterthought, fake sincerity and self-indulged greed.

TACO all the way baby.
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