Has not all of Latin America been pretty much USAs original sphere of hegemony since the banana republics were set up? Has not Venezuela been dependent upon US market-refining? Did not Trumps regaining control over the Panama canal have a lot to do with blocking export of Venezuela crude to China and keeping Venequela dependent upon US refining? Not to defend the Maduro regime but to put it in context that the USA has projected its power across the entire Americas for more than a century in order to benefit its corporations and interests, often at the expense of freedoms and wealth and sovereignty of Latin American nations and peoples. Is the USA a free market captialist economy? No it is state backed global hegemony and power projection using the USD military to enforce the petrodollar exceptional privilege. Well now with Russia, Iran and Venezuela aligned with China a substantial portion of global oil and gas reserves are no longer held subservient under the petrodollar hegemony. Uncle Sam is no angel- it is a serial oppressor and imperialist...meddling with other nations governments, via Contras and CIA operatives, overthrowing any government not subservient to US-corporate interests.