by Glen Palaca Hubahib, Esq.
Choke point is a strategic narrow route providing passage through or to another region (merriam-webster.com). In maritime trade when closed or impeded it will cause disruption of trade. From the standpoint of military strategy it acts as a force multiplier that an attacker’s superior force is reduced or limited because of the tight space.
Presently the closure of the Strait of Hormuz pushed petroleum products and fertilizer prices up. The renewed skirmishes between the USA and Iran are pushing the global economy on edge. Greatly affected is our OFW kababayans in the Gulf Countries. Additionally, it is predicted that Britain will be going into a recession, and the rest of Europe will follow suit. It is worthy to
Source-fb.org
Ditto also in the United States where elevated prices are squeezing the middle and working class and affecting immigrants especially Filipinos. The economy will be taking center stage in the November 2026 elections and has pressured President Donald Trump to find a graceful exit from the war with Iran.
To add insult to injury, Yemen’s Houthi has declared a naval blockage against Suadi shipping in the Read Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on July 20, 2026. Coincidentally, the Red Sea accounts for approximately 15% of all global trade and 12% of global maritime oil trade among others.
On the other side of the globe in the America’s The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans with estimated 14% of all U.S. maritime trade is transiting. It is a shortcut to both sides of the oceans rather than transiting to the Strait of Magellan in the southern tip of Chile. Currently, the United States and China are on face off after the Panama Supreme Court voided the port contract of the China back and Hongkong based CK Hutchison Holding and seized control and possession of the assets and arrange a transitional operation to a western back subsidiary of A.P. Moller-Maersk.
It seems that the world is getting smaller and it is beginning to be clearer that the current conflict is dictated by economic necessities where the rich get richer and the poor gets killed because they are sent to the combat zone.
ICC, again?
On July 13, 2026, U.S. Secretary Marco Rubio announces a sweeping campaign to dismantle the threat posed by the ICC to the U.S. sovereignty. Actions under considerations includes diplomatic calls highlighting abuses of the ICC and increased scrutiny of nations that refuse to reject the ICC’s false authority while relying on U.S. assistance (state.gov/release). The move prompted the Japanese ICC President Tomoko Akane to ask Japan’s help and persuade other Asian countries from leaving the court (Japantimes.co.jp).\
U.S. State Sec. Marco Rubio
Meanwhile, on July 24, 2026, 82 of the 125 ICC member states voted to dismiss the ICC prosecutor Karim Khan for sexual misconduct (Reuters). Khan is the same prosecutor who initiated the investigation of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.
Recent withdrawal from the ICC are Chad and Venezuela (July 2026), Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger late 2025 labeling the court politicized and instrument of neo-colonial repression. Likewise, the Philippines withdrew in 2018 under Pres. Duterte.
[Note: Glen Palaca Hubahib is admitted to practice law in California and the Philippines. He also holds an Electrical Engineering and MBA degrees. He is a regular resource person of the top rated “Open Forum” program of Ardy Araneta-Batoy & Gloria Leodivica Araneta at station DYTR. The article is for information only and is not legal advice. Send your comments to the author at hubahibg@gmail.com.]