EU Envoy Luigi Di Maio Outlines New Maritime and Energy Security Strategy for Gulf Ties

Luigi Di Maio, the European Union Special Representative for the Gulf region, has outlined a strategic shift toward deeper security and maritime cooperation between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). In a detailed assessment of regional stability, Di Maio emphasized that European interests are now directly linked to the security of Gulf trade routes and energy infrastructure. Maritime Security and Operation ASPIDES Central to this cooperation is Operation ASPIDES, the EU’s maritime mission launched in early 2024 to safeguard commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Di Maio clarified that while the mission is strictly defensive, it represents a more assertive European presence in the region. The mission aims to mitigate the impact of regional volatility on global supply chains, particularly the transit of energy and manufactured goods through the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The envoy noted that the EU is the GCC’s second-largest trading partner. According to European Commission data, bilateral trade in goods between the two blocs reached €170 billion in 2022. Di Maio argues that maintaining this economic volume requires a transition from a purely transactional relationship to a…