The week ending January 9, 2026, was anything but ordinary for crude oil markets. As of late Thursday, WTI was trading at $58.42, up $1.10 or 1.92% for the week so far, with a weekly high of $58.87 and a low of $55.76. While these numbers might suggest relative stability, the forces at play beneath the surface tell a far more dramatic story—one that could reshape global energy markets for years to come. The Venezuela Shock The single biggest story this week was President Trump's military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan…