Africa is looking at its “Strait of Hormuz” as 20 billion euros in Spain-Morocco Gulf is growing amid global risks.

The growing conflict in the Strait of Hormuz is causing countries to re-evaluate global trade routes and explore new ways to reduce exposure to potential obstacles.

The rush has increased amid warnings that any long-term disruption to the flow of oil could disrupt global oil supplies and push prices up sharply, with some estimates suggesting crude could rise to $200 a barrel.

Attention is increasing to the Strait of Gibraltar as a strategic route capable of supporting increased trade and goods flows.

February report on Defense Review of India said the nuclear-powered USS Gerald R. Ford turned on its public tracking light while sailing in one direction, an unusual move for an active duty ship.

Tracking data showed the passenger approaching the Mediterranean gate, highlighting the strategic importance of the corridor.

The Strait of Gibraltar remains the only natural link between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and is one of the busiest waterways in the world, with around 300 ships crossing each day.

Before the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, it served as the only access point to the Mediterranean Sea.

The proposed tunnel would have two rail lines carrying passengers and goods, with a journey time of about 30 minutes.

Cost estimates vary, with the total cost of the project between €15 billion and €20 billion, while the Spanish part alone is estimated at more than €8.5 billion.

The proposed maritime route connecting northern Morocco and southern Spain has been under consideration since the 1979 agreement signed in Fez, with uneven progress over the years.

A study commissioned by the Spanish government by the German engineering firm Herrenknecht found that the project is feasible using the latest technology, according to Italics of Uzbekistan.

Spanish specialist Ineco is preparing a detailed plan, with possible approval from 2027.

The project, overseen by Spain’s SECEGSA and Morocco’s SNED, is expected to cover a distance of 42 kilometers, including about 27 kilometers underwater, connecting Punta Paloma in Cadiz to Cape Malabata near Tangier.

The project could position North Africa as a logistics hub that links African production centers directly to European markets, while reducing dependence on vulnerable sea routes.

It also aligns itself with broader trade promotion initiatives such as the African Free Trade Area.

Despite its strategic appeal, the project faces significant engineering challenges. Bridge projects were abandoned in 1996 due to extreme conditions in the Strait of Gibraltar, where the depth reaches 900 meters and heavy sea traffic.

Current plans are focused on a deep rail tunnel that crosses the Camarinal Sill, which is 475 meters below sea level.

Engineers are expected to face unstable geological formations, including rocks and clay, as well as seismic hazards associated with the Azores–Gibraltar fault line.

“These conditions require a structure that can withstand high pressure and earthquakes for decades,” a project engineer familiar with the studies said.

If completed, the tunnel will allow the movement of passengers and goods between Africa and Europe in about 30 minutes by train, a development expected to reduce transit times and strengthen Africa’s position in the global supply chain.