In remarks delivered at a high-profile international gathering this week, Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño has outlined the severe economic strain his small Caribbean nation faces following the escalation of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, revealing that fuel costs have jumped by 27.7% since the crisis began. Speaking at the Caribbean Ministerial Meeting, held on the sidelines of the 2026 World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Briceño emphasized that Belize’s heavy dependence on imported fossil fuels has left the country’s households, private sector, and national budget acutely vulnerable to volatile global energy markets.