Former Sec. of State Blinken: The retreat into a spheres-of-influence world will lead to conflict

Summary

Antony Blinken, former Secretary of State, joins Squawk Box to discuss the aftermath of Nicolas Maduro's ouster in Venezuela, the strategic uncertainty that remains, and the near-term obstacles to investing in Venezuela's oil sector. He also assesses the escalating protests in Iran, the risks of a spheres-of-influence world, and why the U.S. should cooperate with Greenland rather than take it over. The discussion is mostly geopolitical, with limited direct market or trading recommendations.

• Blinken calls the Venezuela operation tactically brilliant but questions its strategic end.
• He says Venezuela has had regime change without changing the regime and remains uninvestable near term.
• He notes oil at $60 makes Venezuelan crude expensive to produce.
• He says Iran's protests are broad and economically driven but the outcome is highly uncertain.
• He warns a retreat into spheres of influence leads to conflict.
• He opposes a U.S. takeover of Greenland, favoring cooperative deals and existing defense access.