Submitted by Thomas Kolbe The new year begins with a geopolitical thunderclap. With the arrest of Venezuela’s dictator Nicolás Maduro, the U.S. positions itself as a decisive player in the global energy market. This move has far-reaching consequences for the balance of power. Peering through the dense fog of leftist crocodile tears following the arrest of Venezuela’s dictator Nicolás Maduro, one can conclude: the U.S., with its intervention in Venezuela, has removed a key piece from the geopolitical chessboard. This step marks a turning point in a conflict that has long transcended regional boundaries, revealing the tectonic tensions of the international order. The Caracas Breakpoint  Everything that can be said about Nicolás Maduro has essentially been said. A communist dictator, an individual who pursued his policies through systematic human rights suppression—in the name and interest of his allies. Whether it was China’s energy hunger or functioning as South America’s resource hub, which for years primarily operated on Beijing’s behalf. Since the mid-2000s, there has also been military cooperation between Iran’s mullah regime and Venezuela, with Iran …