SOLOMON GREY
CAPITAL

By John Ian Lau
, Solomon Grey Capital 
January 5, 2026 In the early hours of January 3, U.S. special forces executed a swift raid on Caracas, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and effectively ending his 13-year rule. The Trump administration framed the operation as a decisive step toward restoring democracy and securing access to Venezuela’s immense oil reserves—estimated at over 300 billion barrels, potentially valued at $17.3 trillion. Yet, as the dust settles