US Venezuela Oil Control Threatens China's BRI, Caribbean Caught in Crossfire

• US military intervention in Venezuela and control over its oil reserves are impacting China's global investment strategy and Caribbean geopolitics.
• While China's direct energy shock is limited (Venezuela supplies 4% of its oil), US actions threaten $20 billion+ oil-backed Belt and Road Initiative loans.
• Disruption of these loans could force China to renegotiate terms, weakening its financial leverage and credibility as a development partner.
• Venezuela has become a strategic battleground in the US-China rivalry, with Washington aiming to reassert dominance and chip away at Beijing's influence.
• Caribbean nations face intense pressure, caught between global powers, leading to "stunned silence" and cautious diplomacy amidst fear of victimisation.

Why It Matters: US control of Venezuelan oil is a strategic move to counter China's BRI influence, putting Caribbean nations in a geopolitical bind.