Diversification nations: The Gulf way to engage with Africa
The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are making geoeconomic inroads into sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in energy and climate. This could affect Europe’s African interests
Experts & Staff
Corrado Čok
Visiting Fellow
Areas of expertise
African climate and energy policy, the Gulf states, the Middle East, fragile states
Languages
English, Italian, conversational French, and basic Arabic
Biography
Corrado Čok is a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. In his research, Čok explores the role of the Gulf states in Africa, with a focus on climate and energy sectors. Prior to joining ECFR, Čok conducted research as an independent consultant on political, energy, economic and security matters in the Gulf and the Horn of Africa, where he also specialised in the role of great and middle powers in the Red Sea. He gained further experience in the humanitarian-development sector working on projects in Djibouti, Kenya and Somalia.
Čok holds an MA in conflict resolution from King’s College London, where he specialised in the political economy of fragile states in Africa and the Middle East.
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Beyond competition: How Europe can harness the UAE’s energy ambitions in Africa
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Green synergies: How the EU, the UAE, and Africa can cooperate on energy
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Publications
Diversification nations: The Gulf way to engage with Africa
The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are making geoeconomic inroads into sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in energy and climate. This could affect Europe’s African interests
Beyond competition: How Europe can harness the UAE’s energy ambitions in Africa
The UAE has invested heavily in Africa’s energy sectors in recent years, expanding its stakes in oil and gas, and renewables. Rather than viewing the UAE as solely a rival, Europeans should pursue a strategy of “co-opetition”, balancing competition with cooperation in areas of mutual interest, to fast-track green initiatives
Articles
US aid freeze: A catastrophe looming for the Horn of Africa
An unstable Horn of Africa spells major trouble for Europe. The EU should take the reins in the Western response to counter the fallout from the aid withdrawal
A security-development mission: How Europe can support the Ethiopia-Somalia trade corridor
Europe can help stabilise the Horn of Africa with a daunting project: a commercial corridor in Somalia that allows Ethiopia access to the sea
Three’s a crowd: Why Egypt’s and Somalia’s row with Ethiopia can embolden al-Shabaab
Somalia’s new defence pact with Egypt has angered Ethiopia, undermining coalition efforts to contain al-Shabaab, a Jihadist group. European diplomats can help revert this dangerous path
Green synergies: How the EU, the UAE, and Africa can cooperate on energy
The UAE’s expanding role in Africa’s energy spaces could present a challenge to Europe’s energy security and decarbonisation ambitions – but opportunities for cooperation also exist that could accelerate the global energy transition
Events
14 Jan
Africa amid global shifts: Balancing partnerships
Africa’s growing prominence in global geopolitics and geoeconomics presents a landscape of both exciting opportunities and critical challenges for the continent and its international partners
18 Sep
Researchers’ dialogue: Unlocking Africa-Europe-Gulf relations
Policy and research circles are increasingly interested in Gulf monarchies’ expanding footprint in Africa, though the challenges and opportunities of the deepening Gulf-Africa relations for…
In the media
Corrado Čok on Somalia and Ethiopia agreement to resolve their dispute over the Somaliland region
Corrado Čok on UAE-Africa relations
You can’t replace that many Ethiopian troops overnight, because there’s simply not enough troops of other nationalities to cover Ethiopia’s deployment
Corrado Čok on Somalia’s call for Ethiopian troops to leave
Corrado Cok on withdrawing and providing troops to the Somalian conflict