The Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region has experienced the intensification of geopolitical dynamics and the evolution of multiple threats in recent months. The region hosts some of the world’s most critical chokepoints for global and European trade, such as the Suez Canal, the Bab el Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz. It suffers from a range of illicit activities, including piracy and armed robbery at sea, changing dynamics of drug smuggling, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and the spill over of territorial conflicts. The east coast of Africa is also a channel for the traffic of heroine, with an increasing local usage observed. Furthermore, the region is of critical environmental significance, hosting some of the world’s most diverse and productive marine ecosystems. The combination of strategic maritime importance and ecological richness makes the region particularly sensitive to both environmental degradation and security disruptions.

For several years, the European Union has been committed to improving maritime security and safety in the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean region through the implementation of strategies, cooperation projects and EU naval operations. These efforts contribute to upholding international law, while also demonstrating the EU as a reliable maritime security partner.

In this context, the new EnMAR+ project aims to enhance maritime security and governance in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG), the Red Sea, and the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) through a more political, coordinated and visible EU approach. The project will work under the supervision of the European External Action Service’s Senior Coordinator for Maritime Security and FPI. It follows an initial phase (EnMAR – 2022-2026), which focused exclusively on the Gulf of Guinea, while this new phase will also cover the Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean. Furthermore, EnMAR+ will act as a Facility to provide support based on requests received from stakeholders.

The EnMAR+ project has three (3) specific objectives:

1. To deepen the EU’s maritime diplomacy, political influence and partnerships in the GoG, Red Sea and WIO by fostering political dialogue and enhancing collaboration with regional and national stakeholders, including the protection of critical maritime infrastructure.
2. To streamline the EU’s maritime security efforts across targeted regions and to optimise the use of resources, enhance operational synergy, and prevent duplication.
3. To bolster the EU’s role as a leading maritime security provider through strategic communication efforts that enhance visibility, promote EU values, and highlight the benefits of collaborative security initiatives.

In the Red Sea and WIO, EnMAR+ will seek to work with regional maritime security architectures, in particular, the Djibouti Code of Conduct-Jeddah Amendment. Partnerships will also be developed with women’s associations, regional media, think tanks, and universities

Organisation of the project team:

The Maritime Security Expert for the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean region will join a team of 6 members, placed under the supervision of the Head of Project based in Brussels:

• A technical unit composed of the Strategic Communication Manager and another Maritime Security expert for the Gulf of Guinea.
• A support unit composed of an Administrative and Financial Officer and a Logistics Officer, supporting the Head of Project in daily implementation of the project.
• Ad hoc expertise will be mobilised based on requests for support.

Relevant EU services will closely monitor the project in order to support the identification and validation of activities proposed under the facility modality. 

The project is implemented by Expertise France, the French public agency for international technical cooperation and a subsidiary of the AFD Group. Expertise France designs and implements projects that strengthen public policies in partner countries. It works across various areas such as governance, health, climate, security, and education, and operates in nearly 150 countries.