Este es un momento "de confrontación psicológica muy prominente por parte de Estados Unidos", dice el editor general de Americas Quarterly.

"El comercio y la inversión son y serán aún más clave en esta relación", escribe Susan Segal de AS/COA en La Nación.

"All of this may produce a backlash against the U.S. over the medium term," said AS/COA's Brian Winter to The Observer.

"What we're seeing today is a light version of the gunboat diplomacy of a century ago," said AS/COA's Brian Winter to the Financial Times.

The agreements are potentially historic – but some countries have been left out, and a Supreme Court challenge looms.

Designating the Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist group would be "another sign that the U.S. administration means business," said AS/COA's vice president.

Maduro’s repression is escalating alongside unprecedented U.S. military activity. The situation on the ground shows two likely paths forward.