Seas of Convergence: EU-GCC Maritime Security Cooperation in the Western Indian Ocean

This analysis examines maritime security cooperation between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council in the strategically vital Western Indian Ocean region. The study addresses how these two major regional organizations can enhance collaboration to secure critical waterways including the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and Suez Canal. The research reveals a complex institutional landscape characterized by overlapping mandates and fragmented governance mechanisms, including the Combined Maritime Forces, Djibouti Code of Conduct, and various information-sharing platforms. Rather than pursuing institutional consolidation, the analysis recommends embracing "adaptive patchwork governance" that leverages existing diversity while enhancing coordination through strategic dialogue, systematic policy learning, and flexible standards. Both organizations contribute significantly to regional security through operations like EUNAVFOR Atalanta and participation in multilateral frameworks, but improved coordination could transform current institutional complexity into a more coherent yet flexible security architecture. The findings offer a template for regional maritime cooperation applicable to other strategic waterways globally.