Securing the Future of Global Trade in the Mediterranean Bassin: A Cooperative Policy Framework for Tanger Med and Algeciras Ports

This paper examines the nexus between governance structures, digital transformation, sustainability, and port service efficiency through an international comparative lens, with a specific focus on the Tanger Med–Algeciras corridor in the strait of Gibraltar. Using global best practices—from Singapore to Busan and Kaohsiung—it explores how public-private coordination, digital innovation, and green transition policies contribute to port competitiveness and integration into global supply chains. Tanger Med serves as a model of end-to-end digitalization and infrastructure investment, while Algeciras showcases strengths in real-time optimization and predictive logistics systems. The paper adopts a comparative analytical approach, using global benchmarks to assess governance models, digitalization maturity, and sustainability strategies across the Tanger Med–Algeciras corridor. It highlights emerging asymmetries caused by regulatory divergence—particularly under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)—and proposes targeted policy recommendations to align digital systems, cybersecurity frameworks, and decarbonization strategies, while critically evaluating each port’s institutional readiness and level of compliance with evolving environmental regulations. The paper concludes by emphasizing the strategic complementarity between the two ports and advocates for coordinated governance to transform the Strait of Gibraltar into a resilient, integrated, and sustainable logistics corridor.