{"id":1886,"date":"2026-04-23T04:03:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T04:03:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/?p=1886"},"modified":"2026-04-23T04:03:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T04:03:01","slug":"the-silent-impact-of-the-middle-east-on-global-finances","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/ethnic-media-services\/the-silent-impact-of-the-middle-east-on-global-finances\/","title":{"rendered":"The Silent Impact of the Middle East on Global Finances"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>At a meeting organized by American Community Media (ACoM), experts examined how the escalating conflict in the Middle East is already driving up energy and food prices, with uneven consequences for countries such as the United States and India.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The escalating conflict in the Middle East is not only dominating the geopolitical agenda but is also beginning to significantly affect the daily lives of millions of people worldwide. This was the central theme of a virtual meeting organized by ACoM, where economics and development experts analyzed how instability in a region crucial to global energy supply translates into inflation, rising living costs, and growing food insecurity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The meetin brought together specialists in economics and geopolitics to analyze the global impact of the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran. The panel included William O. Beeman, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology and Middle East expert; Anil Deolalikar, development economist and founding dean of the School of Public Policy at the University of California, Riverside; and Ryan Nunn, research director at Yale\u2019s Budget Lab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the main points addressed during the meeting was the vulnerability of the global energy system to any disruption in strategic areas such as the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the world\u2019s oil flows. Although there has been no direct interruption of maritime traffic, specialists warned that the mere threat of a closure is enough to generate market volatility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe global energy system is extremely sensitive to geopolitical shocks,\u201d Nunn noted, explaining that even scenarios involving moderate risk can trigger increases in crude oil prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As he detailed, those increases do not remain confined to the energy sector but rapidly spread to transportation, food, and other essential goods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nunn emphasized that, in the case of the United States, the effects may appear gradual but are no less real because of that. \u201cPrice increases hit low-income households the hardest, as they allocate a larger proportion of their budget to energy and food,\u201d Nunn said, warning that this form of inflation tends to deepen existing inequalities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Expensive Energy, Global Inflation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beeman explained that Iran\u2019s decisions regarding the conflict cannot be understood solely as tactical responses to international pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOne of the most important forces guiding the actions of the Iranian government is the protection of its national sovereignty,\u201d he stated, recalling that Iran has been subjected to foreign intervention for nearly two centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In that sense, the 1979 Islamic Revolution was not only a religious rupture but also a political affirmation: \u201cIran declared that it would be neither East nor West, and that it would resist any form of colonial influence,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Beeman, this logic continues to shape the current regime\u2019s behavior, both toward external actors and internal protests, which the government interprets as direct threats to revolutionary values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Expensive Energy, Global Inflation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The panelists agreed that energy functions as a cross-cutting axis of the global economy. When oil prices rise, not only does gasoline become more expensive, but agricultural production, the transportation of goods, and industrial activity more broadly are also affected. This chain reaction ultimately influences the final prices consumers pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe problem isn\u2019t just oil itself, but everything that depends on it,\u201d Nunn explained. \u201cFrom fertilizers to food transportation, the increase in energy costs seeps into every stage of the production chain,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This scenario is especially complex in a context where many countries have yet to fully recover from previous economic crises and face limited fiscal space to cushion new external shocks. Imported inflation, driven by geopolitical factors, reduces governments\u2019 capacity to protect the most vulnerable populations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beeman addressed the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, clarifying that it was an Iranian strategic decision rather than a concession to Washington. He explained that Tehran only allowed maritime traffic to resume after the de-escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis was entirely an Iranian action, consistent with its internal logic and its assertion of control over its own waters,\u201d he noted. Furthermore, he emphasized that no form of coercion -neither economic nor military- will lead Iran to renounce that principle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo amount of pressure will deter the Iranian government from protecting its national sovereignty,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>India and the Burden of the Crisis on Developing Countries<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Economist Anil Deolalikar focused his presentation on the consequences of these energy shocks for developing countries such as India. He explained that dependence on imported fuels leaves these economies particularly exposed to global market volatility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor millions of families in India, the increase in the price of gas or fuel is not a minor inconvenience; it is a direct threat to their daily well-being,\u201d Deolalikar stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The international economics specialist detailed that rising costs of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), used for cooking, force many households to reduce consumption or turn to less safe and more polluting alternatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The impact, however, is not limited to domestic consumption. Deolalikar explained that higher energy prices directly affect agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFertilizers depend heavily on gas and oil. When those prices rise, producing food becomes more expensive, and that ends up raising the price of basic foodstuffs,\u201d Deolalikar said. This process, she warned, exacerbates food insecurity and pushes more people into poverty, particularly in rural areas and among informal workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThese are communities with very little capacity to absorb these increases. In many cases, the damage is already done before public policies can respond,\u201d she noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>An Impact That Crosses Borders<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The panel concluded that, even if the conflict unfolds thousands of miles away, its effects are felt worldwide. From consumers in the United States paying more at the pump to families in Asia facing higher food prices, the crisis underscores the deep interconnectedness of the global economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe key message is that no country is isolated,\u201d Nunn stated. \u201cDecisions and conflicts in a strategic region can quickly affect the daily lives of people who have no direct connection to that conflict,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As long as the global economy remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels and social safety nets are not strengthened, geopolitical crises will continue to translate into economic crises for the planet\u2019s most vulnerable sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>El impacto silencioso de Medio Oriente en los bolsillos del mundo<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Especialistas analizaron en un encuentro organizado por American Community Media (ACoM) c\u00f3mo la escalada del conflicto en Medio Oriente ya est\u00e1 presionando los precios de la energ\u00eda y los alimentos, con efectos desiguales en pa\u00edses como Estados Unidos e India.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El recrudecimiento del conflicto en Medio Oriente no solo domina la agenda geopol\u00edtica, sino que empieza a sentirse con fuerza en la econom\u00eda cotidiana de millones de personas en todo el mundo. Ese fue el eje central de un encuentro virtual organizado por ACoM en el que especialistas en econom\u00eda y desarrollo analizaron c\u00f3mo la inestabilidad en una regi\u00f3n clave para el suministro energ\u00e9tico global se traduce en inflaci\u00f3n, encarecimiento del costo de vida e inseguridad alimentaria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El encuentro, organizado por ACoM, reuni\u00f3 a especialistas en econom\u00eda y geopol\u00edtica para analizar el impacto global de la escalada del conflicto entre Estados Unidos e Ir\u00e1n. El panel estuvo conformado por William O. Beeman, profesor em\u00e9rito de Antropolog\u00eda y experto en Medio Oriente; Anil Deolalikar, economista del desarrollo y decano fundador de la Escuela de Pol\u00edticas P\u00fablicas de la Universidad de California en Riverside; y Ryan Nunn, director de investigaci\u00f3n del Budget Lab de Yale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Uno de los principales puntos abordados durante el encuentro fue la vulnerabilidad del sistema energ\u00e9tico global frente a cualquier alteraci\u00f3n en zonas estrat\u00e9gicas como el Estrecho de Ormuz, por donde circula una porci\u00f3n significativa del petr\u00f3leo que consume el mundo. Aunque no se haya producido una interrupci\u00f3n directa del tr\u00e1nsito mar\u00edtimo, los especialistas advirtieron que la sola amenaza de un cierre es suficiente para generar volatilidad en los mercados.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEl sistema energ\u00e9tico global es extremadamente sensible a los shocks geopol\u00edticos\u201d, se\u00f1al\u00f3 Nunn, al explicar que incluso escenarios de riesgo moderado provocan aumentos en los precios del crudo.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Seg\u00fan detall\u00f3, esos incrementos no se quedan en el sector energ\u00e9tico, sino que se trasladan r\u00e1pidamente al transporte, los alimentos y otros bienes esenciales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nunn subray\u00f3 que, en el caso de Estados Unidos, los efectos pueden parecer graduales, pero no por ello menos reales.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLos aumentos de precios golpean con mayor fuerza a los hogares de bajos ingresos, que destinan una mayor proporci\u00f3n de su presupuesto a energ\u00eda y alimentos\u201d, dijo Nunn, al advertir que este tipo de inflaci\u00f3n tiende a profundizar desigualdades ya existentes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beeman explic\u00f3 que las decisiones de Ir\u00e1n en torno al conflicto no pueden entenderse \u00fanicamente como respuestas t\u00e1cticas a la presi\u00f3n internacional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cUna de las fuerzas m\u00e1s importantes que gu\u00edan las acciones del gobierno iran\u00ed es la protecci\u00f3n de su soberan\u00eda nacional\u201d, afirm\u00f3, recordando que Ir\u00e1n ha sido objeto de intervenciones extranjeras durante casi dos siglos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">En ese sentido, la Revoluci\u00f3n Isl\u00e1mica de 1979 no fue solo un quiebre religioso, sino una afirmaci\u00f3n pol\u00edtica: \u201cIr\u00e1n declar\u00f3 que no ser\u00eda ni Oriente ni Occidente, y que resistir\u00eda cualquier forma de influencia colonial\u201d, subray\u00f3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Para Beeman, esa l\u00f3gica sigue marcando la conducta del r\u00e9gimen actual, tanto frente a actores externos como frente a las protestas internas, que el gobierno interpreta como amenazas directas a los valores revolucionarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Energ\u00eda cara, inflaci\u00f3n global<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Los panelistas coincidieron en que la energ\u00eda funciona como un eje transversal de la econom\u00eda global. Cuando sube el precio del petr\u00f3leo, no solo se encarece la gasolina, sino tambi\u00e9n la producci\u00f3n agr\u00edcola, el transporte de mercanc\u00edas y la actividad industrial en general. Este efecto en cadena termina reflej\u00e1ndose en el precio final que pagan los consumidores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEl problema no es solo el petr\u00f3leo en s\u00ed, sino todo lo que depende de \u00e9l\u201d, explic\u00f3 Nunn. \u201cDesde los fertilizantes hasta el transporte de alimentos, el aumento de los costos energ\u00e9ticos se filtra en cada etapa de la cadena productiva\u201d, a\u00f1adi\u00f3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Este escenario resulta especialmente complejo en un contexto en el que muchos pa\u00edses a\u00fan no logran recuperarse del todo de crisis econ\u00f3micas previas y cuentan con un margen fiscal limitado para amortiguar nuevos golpes externos. La inflaci\u00f3n importada, provocada por factores geopol\u00edticos, reduce la capacidad de los gobiernos para proteger a las poblaciones m\u00e1s vulnerables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beeman abord\u00f3 la reapertura del Estrecho de Ormuz, aclarando que se trat\u00f3 de una decisi\u00f3n estrat\u00e9gica iran\u00ed y no de una concesi\u00f3n a Washington. Seg\u00fan explic\u00f3, Teher\u00e1n permiti\u00f3 nuevamente el tr\u00e1nsito mar\u00edtimo solo despu\u00e9s de la desescalada entre Israel y Hezbollah.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEsto fue completamente una acci\u00f3n iran\u00ed, coherente con su l\u00f3gica interna y su afirmaci\u00f3n de control sobre sus propias aguas\u201d, se\u00f1al\u00f3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adem\u00e1s, enfatiz\u00f3 que ninguna forma de coerci\u00f3n -ni econ\u00f3mica ni militar- lograr\u00e1 que Ir\u00e1n renuncie a ese principio.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNinguna cantidad de presi\u00f3n va a disuadir al gobierno iran\u00ed de proteger su soberan\u00eda nacional\u201d, advirti\u00f3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adem\u00e1s, Beeman calific\u00f3 la ret\u00f3rica religiosa isl\u00e1mica como \u201cextremadamente desafortunada\u201d, al advertir que, en Medio Oriente, evoca memorias hist\u00f3ricas profundas vinculadas a las Cruzadas.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPara el p\u00fablico estadounidense puede no significar mucho, pero para el mundo isl\u00e1mico es altamente simb\u00f3lico y peligroso\u201d, explic\u00f3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A su juicio, ese tipo de discurso no solo enfr\u00eda cualquier posibilidad de negociaci\u00f3n, sino que refuerza una lectura civilizatoria del conflicto que agrava la percepci\u00f3n global de la regi\u00f3n y profundiza las tensiones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sobre el programa nuclear iran\u00ed, Beeman record\u00f3 que Ir\u00e1n es firmante del Tratado de No Proliferaci\u00f3n Nuclear y que, como otros pa\u00edses no nucleares, tiene derecho al enriquecimiento de uranio con fines pac\u00edficos.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo existe evidencia, de ning\u00fan organismo internacional, de que Ir\u00e1n tenga o haya tenido un programa de armas nucleares\u201d, sostuvo, calificando esas acusaciones como un pretexto pol\u00edtico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">En esa l\u00ednea, advirti\u00f3 que cualquier intento de Estados Unidos por exigir el desmantelamiento total del programa nuclear iran\u00ed bloquea de antemano cualquier negociaci\u00f3n realista.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>India y el peso de la crisis en los pa\u00edses en desarrollo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El economista Anil Deolalikar centr\u00f3 su intervenci\u00f3n en las consecuencias que estos shocks energ\u00e9ticos tienen en pa\u00edses en desarrollo como India. Seg\u00fan explic\u00f3, la dependencia de combustibles importados convierte a estas econom\u00edas en particularmente vulnerables frente a la volatilidad del mercado global.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPara millones de familias en India, el aumento del precio del gas o del combustible no es un inconveniente menor, es una amenaza directa a su bienestar diario\u201d, afirm\u00f3 Deolalikar.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El especialista en materia econ\u00f3mica internacional detall\u00f3 que el encarecimiento del gas licuado de petr\u00f3leo, utilizado para cocinar, obliga a muchos hogares a reducir su consumo o a recurrir a alternativas menos seguras y m\u00e1s contaminantes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El impacto, sin embargo, no se limita al consumo dom\u00e9stico. Deolalikar explic\u00f3 que el aumento de los precios de la energ\u00eda repercute de manera directa en la agricultura.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLos fertilizantes dependen en gran medida del gas y del petr\u00f3leo. Cuando esos precios suben, producir alimentos se vuelve m\u00e1s caro, y eso termina elevando el precio de los alimentos b\u00e1sicos\u201d, dijo Deolalikar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Este proceso, advirti\u00f3, agrava la inseguridad alimentaria y empuja a m\u00e1s personas hacia la pobreza, especialmente en zonas rurales y entre trabajadores informales.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSon comunidades que tienen muy poca capacidad para absorber estos aumentos. En muchos casos, el da\u00f1o ya est\u00e1 hecho antes de que las pol\u00edticas p\u00fablicas puedan reaccionar\u201d, se\u00f1al\u00f3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Un impacto que cruza fronteras<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El panel concluy\u00f3 que, aunque el conflicto se desarrolle a miles de kil\u00f3metros de distancia, sus efectos se sienten en todo el mundo. Desde consumidores en Estados Unidos que pagan m\u00e1s por llenar el tanque de gasolina hasta familias en Asia que enfrentan precios m\u00e1s altos de alimentos, la crisis evidencia el alto nivel de interconexi\u00f3n de la econom\u00eda global.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEl mensaje clave es que ning\u00fan pa\u00eds est\u00e1 aislado\u201d, afirm\u00f3 Nunn. \u201cLas decisiones y los conflictos en una regi\u00f3n estrat\u00e9gica pueden repercutir r\u00e1pidamente en la vida cotidiana de personas que no tienen ninguna relaci\u00f3n directa con ese conflicto\u201d, a\u00f1adi\u00f3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mientras la econom\u00eda global siga dependiendo fuertemente de los combustibles f\u00f3siles y no se fortalezcan las redes de protecci\u00f3n social, las crisis geopol\u00edticas continuar\u00e1n traduci\u00e9ndose en crisis econ\u00f3micas para los sectores m\u00e1s vulnerables del planeta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At a meeting organized by American Community Media (ACoM), experts examined how the escalating conflict in the Middle East is already driving up energy and food prices, with uneven consequences for countries such as the United States and India. The escalating conflict in the Middle East is not only dominating the geopolitical agenda but is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1888,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[686,194,9],"tags":[1257,1277,196,3195,3197,3198,3194,3196,2873,3193,86],"class_list":["post-1886","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-american-community-media","category-california-black-media","category-ethnic-media-services","tag-acom","tag-american-community-media","tag-california","tag-energyprices","tag-foodsecurity","tag-geopolitics","tag-globaleconomy","tag-inflation","tag-lavozcalifornia","tag-middleeast","tag-usa"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1886","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1886"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1886\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1887,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1886\/revisions\/1887"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1888"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1886"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1886"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1886"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}