UK Rejects Morocco Energy Project as Europe Shifts to Middle East
North Africa is being sidelined as Europe rushes to recalibrate its security architecture in the Middle East following Iran and Israel conflict.
On 26 June, the United Kingdom’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) rejected a two-year pending $33 billion Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project, which aimed to deliver 3.6GW of solar and wind energy from Morocco’s Sahara Desert to Britain via a 4,000km subsea cable. The decision prioritises the UK’s domestic renewable projects, citing economic benefits and reduced risks. However, it carries significant implications for Morocco’s green ambitions, as the North African leg of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) appears to be sidelined in favour of the Middle Eastern route - especially in light of Iran’s confrontation with Israel, which has pushed the US-led Western security architecture in the region into a defensive posture.
In Question: Europe-MENA Partnerships
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