Ross Mould

is actually in some ways in control and leading Venezuela drug exports.

President Maduro, for his point, is saying, actually, what you're trying to do is oust me and take control of Venezuela for yourselves.

And the Americans have certainly been very vocal about the 2023-24 elections and how they argue that President Maduro bought them.

Also, rattling around in the background, you have Venezuela and oil.

Now, China's sanctioned.

The biggest buyer of it right now is China.

The unsanctioned supply is provided by America's Chevron, which has got a license down there.

So...

There are multiple possible explanations for why America is getting involved, but getting involved it is, from a global perspective, Venezuela is about 1% of global oil supply.

Now, that's not a huge number.

It's also very heavy, very sweet, needs an awful lot of refining, so it's not the easiest product in the world.

But nevertheless, it is taking a tiny bit of supply out of global markets.

And that is just giving a little bit of support to the oil price, which is very, very beleaguered.

It's struggling to hold on to the $60 mark.

And some traders have been looking to cover positions just in case you see an escalation here.

I think, Susan, there are two or three angles here, but I think if you believe that there is a coherent US foreign policy, and some people think there is, and some people definitely think there isn't, you're certainly looking at something equivalent to the Monroe Doctrine, where America is pretty much pulling up the shutters with regard to staying within its borders, not being the global policeman of the world, at the same time taking a very active interest in Latin America, because that is just down south, and it's an area where

America will wish to, if not wish to exercise an influence, certainly make sure that there are no untoward influences coming from it.

Intriguingly, if you look at the recent elections in the continent, there has generally been a swing from the left to the right, which you would assume, given the current incumbent in the White House, is something that they're fairly pleased to see.

Well, I actually, there's one here in Brighton where I live.

It's actually at Sussex County Cricket Ground in Hove, just about a mile away.