Venezuela's geopolitical leverage deserves closer attention. The country sits on vast reserves of heavy crude oil—billions of barrels. It's worth noting that Russia holds similarly substantial heavy oil reserves, yet they operate in very different spheres. Here's where it gets interesting: China has become the dominant buyer of Venezuelan crude, importing significant quantities year after year. In fact, Venezuelan oil accounts for roughly 5% of China's total annual crude imports. This supply dynamic creates interesting ripple effects across commodities and energy markets, with implications that ripple through broader economic indicators and asset allocation strategies.