Blue Diplomacy: Transboundary Efforts for Red Sea Coral Reefs

Coral reefs are biodiversity hotspots vital for marine life and human livelihoods. Yet, they face existential threats from climate change and local stressors, with projections warning that up to 90% of global coral reefs could disappear by 2050 under current trends. The coral reefs of the northern Red Sea – particularly in the Gulf of Aqaba (GoA) offer a rare refuge, demonstrating remarkable resistance to thermal stress. However, this resilience to warming will only translate into long-term survival if local pressures such as pollution, overfishing, and coastal development are stringently managed. Effective conservation in this region transcends national boundaries, as the GoA is bordered by four countries (Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia) sharing interconnected marine ecosystems. This manuscript examines the critical role of Transboundary Environmental Cooperation (TEC) in safeguarding the GoA’s coral reefs as a global “reef refuge.” We review successful TEC examples in coral reef regions worldwide to draw lessons for the Red Sea. We then detail past and present transboundary initiatives in the Red Sea, highlighting achievements and chronic challenges – from regional conflicts (e.g. the war in Gaza) that have derailed joint efforts, to shifts in international support (such as the Trump administration’s funding cuts) that have left cooperation projects in limbo. In the discussion, we explore pathways to bolster regional environmental security, including open science and data-sharing platforms considering political fragmentation and active violent conflict and the proposal of a multi-nation UNESCO World Heritage Site in the GoA to institutionalize cooperation. These strategies could enhance environmental peacebuilding and resilience, ensuring that the Red Sea’s reefs of hope endure as a bastion for coral survival and regional stability.