*** The real problem with Venezuela is that either Russia or China are going to get a strong beach-head in South America just like Cuba. ***
Russia already has over 6 billion dollars of mining contracts in Venezuela.
China has, IIRC, over 12 billion in oil, housing, agricultural and railway contracts w/ Venezuela. They have established manufacturing plants there
The idea that the US can just threaten, tighten their (since 2011) VZ Sanctions, attempt a coup, and VZ will roll over defies common sense, IMHO.
Yeah, right...
Venezuela hasn’t got two pesos to rub together. ( or whatever their coinage is )
Russia and China haven’t done squat there economically.