The world has seen oil shocks before. But what is unfolding now in the Middle East is not merely another spike in energy prices—it is a structural disruption with the potential to ripple through every layer of the global economy. And for small, import-dependent nations like Jamaica, the consequences may be sharper, faster, and more enduring than many expect.
When the head of the International Energy Agency warned this week of a “major, major threat” to the global economy, the language was not exaggerated. The Strait of Hormuz—a narrow maritime corridor through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil flows—has once again become a choke point of geopolitical tension. But oil is only part of the story.
For Jamaica, the danger lies not just in fuel prices, but in the cascading effects that follow.
The Illusion of Distance
At first glance, Jamaica appears far removed from the conflict. Situated in the Caribbean, thousands of miles from the Persian Gulf, it might see…
