Gold and silver surge, after Venezuela everyone is on edge.

```

After the United States arrested Venezuelan leader Maduro, investors rushed to precious metals as a safe haven.

According to CCTV News, on Monday local time, Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife Flores, who were forcibly taken into custody by the United States, appeared for the first time in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and pleaded “not guilty” to the so-called U.S. “charges”.

At Monday’s opening, safe-haven funds poured into the precious metals market. Spot gold broke through $4,400, spot silver surged 5%, and New York silver spiked nearly 10% intraday. Copper prices continued to rise on concerns about preemptive stockpiling due to tariff expectations and supply disruptions.

(Gold, silver, copper, and platinum surged on Monday)

Analysts believe that this volatility in commodity prices reflects an ongoing “metal war,” as countries race to secure key resources for the rapidly advancing artificial intelligence competition. Analysts note that Venezuela possesses vital gold and copper resources beyond oil, which the United States intends to strengthen its control over.

Venezuelan Mineral Resources Become the Focus

Analysts point out that, aside from U.S. ambitions over Venezuela’s oil resources, the country’s mineral reserves have also attracted significant attention, with the U.S. seeking to prevent these resources from flowing to Venezuela’s allied nations.

David Morgan, editor of The Morgan Report, said on Monday:

Less well known is that Venezuela also possesses significant gold resources and production activities, although its mining industry has struggled for decades due to economic mismanagement and sanctions.

The Brisas mine in southern Venezuela has one of the world’s largest gold and copper deposits.

In recent years, central banks globally have sharply increased their purchases of gold, especially following the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022. This trend reflects growing concerns by sovereign states about asset security and a reassessment of the traditional reserve currency system.

As a traditional safe-haven asset, gold is often sought after during periods of heightened geopolitical tension. The arrest of Maduro has further reinforced market vigilance regarding national sovereign risks.

Battle for Critical Minerals Intensifies

Silver and copper have also seen sharp gains in recent months, after the U.S. included them in its critical minerals list, recognizing their importance to the U.S. economy and national security. Morgan pointed out:

Venezuela’s silver output is relatively small, which means silver prices are more likely to be driven by broader macro factors rather than supply fundamentals from Venezuela.

About 60% of global silver is used for industrial purposes, including solar panels, data centers, and electric vehicle batteries. This has given silver an increasingly strategic position in the AI race and energy transition. In the past month, silver shortages have driven spot silver prices to surge nearly 45%.

(Spot silver trends over the past month)

The competition among countries for key minerals is reshaping the commodity market landscape. Analysts believe investors should pay close attention to the sustained impact of rising resource nationalism on supply chains and prices.

Risk Warning and DisclaimerMarkets are risky; investments should be made with caution. This article does not constitute personal investment advice and does not consider individual users’ specific investment objectives, financial situations, or needs. Users should consider whether any views, opinions, or conclusions in this article are suitable for their particular circumstances. Investment based on this is at your own risk. ```