Venezuela matters to Washington because it sits in a strategically critical region close to the U.S., holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, and its collapse drives migration that eventually impacts U.S. domestic politics. At the same time, the growing influence of Russia, China, and Iran there is seen as a direct challenge to U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere. In short, it is about power, stability, and credibility, not just ideology or democracy.