On Jan. 3, the United States removed Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro from the country in a military raid ordered by President Donald Trump. The operation, Operation Absolute Resolve, emphasised Trump's commitment to American dominance in the Western Hemisphere but also promised a democratic rebirth of Venezuela. For 12 years, Maduro was the steward of Chavismo, a hybrid regime that wrapped authoritarianism in a democratic disguise. The American president became the regime's midwife, leading it to mutate and reinvent itself. Washington effectively recycled the regime under the leadership of Delcy Rodriguez, who served as Maduro's vice president and was one of the most consequential operators within his inner circle. Despite this, despite polls showing cautious optimism among Venezuelans, the demand for genuine democracy remains unfulfilled. The currency of exchange between America and Venezuela is oil.