The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies published on 14 January 2025 an analysis titled "Russia's Options for Naval Basing in the Mediterranean After Syria's Tartus" by Edward Black and Sidharth Kaushal.
In the event that Russia must close its naval base at Tartus in Syria, Mediterranean replacement options are Libya and Algeria and Sudan on the Red Sea. Tobruk in Libya is the most likely alternative, but it comes with significant downsides.
The Italian Institute for International Political Studies published on 24 November 2024 a paper titled "Blue Economy and the Mediterranean: How the Red Sea Crisis is Shaping the Region's Maritime Future (and What Is Next)" by Mario Mattioli.
Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping reduced transit through the Suez Canal by about 50 percent in 2023 and 70 percent in the first half of 2024. Transit around Africa's Cape of Good Hope adds 3,000 to 3,500 nautical miles to voyages connecting Europe and Asia, increasing travel time by about 10 days. This results in higher costs for fuel, wages, insurance, and freight borne by shipping companies.
The National Bureau of Asian Research published on 1 August 2024 an essay titled "Geography Matters, Time Collides: Mapping China's Maritime Strategic Space Under Xi" by Andrew Erickson.
The author uses maps as visual references for understanding China's evolving maritime geography and the constraints on its power in the maritime domain. Concerning Africa, he identifies potential PLAN ports in Mozambique, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and Mauritania. Constraints on the projection of Chinese sea power in African waters are long distances from China and choke points such as Bab el Mandeb in the Red Sea.
Euronews published on 29 June 2024 an article titled "Yemen's Houthi Rebels Target More Ships in the Red Sea and Mediterranean."
Yemen's Houthi rebels claim in the last 24 hours to have hit 4 ships in the Red Sea and eastern Mediterranean. While there has been no confirmation of actual strikes, the Houthis have increased the number of attempts. Since the beginning of their attacks, they have targeted over 60 vessels with missiles or drones. Many of the ships have little or no connection to the Israel-Hamas war.
Egypt's Zawya published on 12 March 2024 an article titled "Egypt, China Discuss Prospects for New Chinese Industrial City."
China is in discussion with Egypt to establish a Chinese industrial zone along the Mediterranean Sea to serve the local market and exports to Europe and the United States.
Comment: The proposal appears to be at an early stage of negotiation.
The Middle East Institue published on 3 November 2023 an analysis titled "China's Growing Maritime Presence in Egypt's Ports and the Suez Canal" by Amr Salah Mohamed.
China is an increasingly important presence in Egypt's strategic ports and the Suez Canal. The author warns that Egypt must weigh the potential downsides. Egypt's financial vulnerability, relatively weak bargaining position vis-a-vis China, and the risk of domination all require attention.
Australian Outlook published on 6 April 2023 an article titled "China's Overseas Ports Acquisition Program" by Genevieve Donnellon-May, University of Oxford.
Chinese and Hong Kong-based companies own or operate more than 90 ports in 53 countries, including many in Africa. This article summarizes China's program to gain access to ports globally.
Al-Monitor published on 17 March 2023 an article titled "Egypt Signs $1.6 Billion Deals with China, EU Companies to Develop Sea Ports."
The Suez Canal Economic Zone signed an agreement to develop and manage the container terminal in the Sokhna Port in the Red Sea with the Hong Kong-based Hutchison Ports, the French shipping company CMA CGM, and the Chinese state-owned COSCO Shipping.
The Zone authority signed a second agreement to develop the Dekheila Port near Alexandria on the Mediterranean with Hutchison Ports and Switzerland-based Mediterranean Shipping Company.
African Arguments published on 15 March 2023 a commentary titled "Djibouti Fiddles Amid the Scramble for the Red Sea" by Amina S. Chire, May Darwich, Jutta Bakonyi, and Abdirachid M. Ismail.
The authors discuss the competition between Dubai Ports World and China Merchants Group, where the Chinese company prevailed, to develop port infrastructure in strategically located Djibouti.
The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published on 9 March 2022 a commentary titled "Ukraine War: Fresh Warning that Africa Needs to Be Vigilant against Russia's Destabilising Influence" by Joseph Siegle.
The author argues that Russia's strategic goals in Africa are to gain a foothold in the southern Mediterranean and Red Sea, to demonstrate Russia's great power status, and to displace Western influence in Africa while undermining support for democracy. He suggests a series of steps that African countries committed to democracy can take to mitigate the counter pressure from Russia.
The Middle East Institute published in March 2022 a report titled "Connecting Beijing's Global Infrastructure: The PEACE Cable in the Middle East and North Africa" by Thomas Blaubach.
One of the most ambitious elements of China's Digital Silk Road is the Pakistan and East Africa Connecting Europe (PEACE) fiber-optic cable. China has long expressed its ambition to connect the greater Middle East and Europe with Chinese fiber optics in order to expand its presence in the region. Chinese involvement in these and other critical locations of the PEACE cable illustrates the geopolitical importance of undersea fiber-optic cables.
The South China Morning Post published on 8 January 2022 an article titled "Morocco Belt and Road Deal Could Give China Gateway to Mediterranean, Experts Say" by Ben Zhao.
China looks to treat Morocco as a Mediterranean trade link between Europe and Africa.
The Middle East Institute published on 18 August 2021 an analysis titled "The Race to Reset the Middle East's Maritime Map" by Michael Tanchum.
China's actual port development in Egypt and efforts to expand its port construction contracts in Israel and Lebanon underscore its goal to strengthen trade and political ties in the eastern Mediterranean.
The American Foreign Policy Council posted on 30 April 2021 a commentary titled "North Africa Is Becoming a New Frontier for U.S.-China Competition" by Ilan Berman.
Morocco's Tanger-Med port facility in which China Merchants Ports Holding has a 20 percent equity investment has brought great power competition to the Maghreb. Morocco's close ties to the West are being challenged as China increases its economic interaction with countries such as Morocco.
The Royal United Services Institute posted on 7 December 2020 an analysis titled "Russia's Port Sudan Naval Base: A Power Play on the Red Sea" by Samuel Ramani, St. Antony's College, Oxford.
The author identifies three potential benefits for Russia by establishing a naval facility at Port Sudan on the Red Sea. He also discusses the implications of this development for other countries vying for power in the Red Sea region: US, France, China, and Turkey.
