On January 3, shortly after midnight, American energy mogul Harry Sargent III watches from his Florida estate the news about a surprise U.S. military operation in Venezuela. For him, the potential toppling of the Venezuelan regime is not just a geopolitical occurrence; it represents the moment he's been waiting for over decades. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, the 68-year-old businessman finds himself just a step away from what could be the biggest business opportunity of his life.

Sargent, a former Marine pilot and occasional golf partner of Donald Trump, has maintained a unique position that allows him to navigate comfortably between Mar-a-Lago and the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas. He has been close enough to Nicolas Maduro that the Venezuelan president refers to him as "abuelo" (grandfather), while also pressuring Trump administration officials to make a clear decision: either collaborate with the regime or push for its complete overthrow, as long as U.S. energy companies are allowed to operate in Venezuela afterward.

The implications of this situation extend far beyond Sargent's personal ambitions. As the U.S. considers military action, the energy dynamics in Venezuela—which holds some of the world's largest oil reserves—could shift drastically. Many are watching closely how this potential regime change could impact not only U.S.-Venezuela relations but also the global oil market and the geopolitical landscape in South America. Sargent represents a collision of business interests and military action that could redefine the future of Venezuelan oil resources and U.S. involvement in the region.