Panama's Foreign Minister, Javier Martínez-Acha, has raised his voice amid the international tension generated by the conflict in the Middle East, warning that the Strait of Hormuz must not be used as a geopolitical tool affecting world trade. From Asuncion, Paraguay, Panama's top diplomat expressed his concern over the closure of this strategic maritime route, a measure taken by Iran following the offensive launched by the United States and Israel at the end of February. Faced with this scenario, the official highlighted that the government of President José Raúl Mulino has activated a partial fuel subsidy scheme to address the situation and mitigate the impact on consumers. With these measures, the Executive seeks to cushion the effects of an international crisis that, despite unfolding thousands of kilometers away, is already directly hitting the wallets of Panamanians. The diplomat expressed confidence that the temporary truce between Washington and Tehran will become a lasting solution that guarantees free maritime circulation. "That cannot be allowed," Martínez-Acha emphasized during an interview, referring to the use of the strait as a pressure mechanism. According to the International Maritime Organization, about 20% of the world's crude oil, 13% of chemicals and fertilizers, and 9% of new cars pass through that route.
