Most of you have probably seen the news.

The US just attacked Venezuela. We can only speculate what Trump’s exact motivation is. But it’s likely not just benevolence. And it likely has a lot to do with Venezuela’s resources. In fact, it’s one of the richest countries in the world when it comes to natural resources.

• Venezuela has significant, yet largely undeveloped, deposits of rare earth elements.

• Estimates show Venezuela has the 12th-largest iron ore reserves in the world.

• And most importantly, Venezuela holds hundreds of billions of barrels of oil reserves, one of the biggest in the world. However, much of this is heavy crude oil, which is far more expensive to extract because it’s harder to process and requires more advanced machinery.

• Not only does Venezuela hold oil, but it also holds a lot of gold. While gold is currently trading at all-time highs, many economies like BRICS have been stocking up on reserves.

We’ll likely find out more soon.

2026 is already off to a wild start. Whatever happens next, it’s clear that we’ll be in some rough waters this year. It’s also safe to assume that there will be plenty more surprises to come. So buckle up.

Volatility will definitely be a constant companion this year.

Interestingly, geopolitical events tend to be short-lived. Initially, markets sell off because of increased uncertainty, but historically, they recover quickly.

One thing to note, especially at the start of a new year, is that even during good years, corrections are pretty normal. The path isn’t just straight up. There are always drawdowns. Last year, the largest drawdown was 19%. And as you can see below 8–10% corrections are very common even in good years.

One thing I’m wary about is that everyone on Wall Street expects the market to just keep heading higher and continue rallying in 2026. They all seem to be in sync. Everyone is on the same side of the boat. But the market rarely does what…