The EU should get serious about maritime security in the Middle East and the Gulf

To achieve its global maritime ambitions, the EU must strengthen its presence in the Middle East and the Gulf. The current geopolitical climate offers a chance to become a key maritime security provider and a reliable partner to actors in the region. Securing shipping lanes from the Mediterranean to the Gulf is crucial for the EU’s economy, its energy supply, and its geopolitical influence. This policy note argues that the EU should (1) overcome fragmentation in its maritime operations in the region; and (2) emphasize the distinct ‘European approach’ to maritime security.