A major donor to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) could reap billions of dollars from a reshuffle in Venezuela’s oil assets following the US's abduction of President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday.

Maduro’s removal and a pliant government in Caracas could allow Singer to finalise a deal that would see his investment firm, Elliot Investment Management, gain control of a network of US-based oil refineries at a steeply discounted price.

Singer’s firm bid $6bn for refineries in Texas, Louisiana, and Illinois, which some analysts say could be worth $12bn. If Trump follows through on his pledge to revive Venezuela's oil industry, the country's heavy crude could start flowing back to the US in large numbers.

Elliot Investment Management is no stranger to the world of emerging market debt. It made billions of dollars in the aftermath of Argentina’s debt crisis. But it also has an inside track to the Trump White House.