Consider the following statements : Statement-I : Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe. Statement-II : Sumed pipeline connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements ?

The SUMED (Suez-Mediterranean) pipeline is a 320-km oil pipeline in Egypt running from Ain Sukhna on the Gulf of Suez (Red Sea) to Sidi Kerir on the Mediterranean Sea. Both statements are factually correct. It serves as a strategic alternative to the Suez Canal for transporting crude oil from the Persian Gulf to Europe, especially for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) that cannot fully transit the Suez Canal. Because the pipeline connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, it serves as the bypass route enabling Persian Gulf oil to reach European markets — therefore Statement-II directly explains Statement-I.