European colonisation of Southeast Asia tightening Turkish control and eventual shut down of the Eastern Mediterranean gateways into Asia first prompted Portuguese, and later Spanish and Dutch sea voyagers to ship around Africa in search of new trading routes and business opportunities. Niccolò de' Conti arrived in Southeast Asia as the earliest documented European in the early 15th century. By 1498 Vasco da Gama, who had sailed round the Cape of Good Hope, established the first direct sea route from Europe to India. Central among the various plannings was to establish direct and permanent trade of the highly priced spices, that were native to Southeast
Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia operational and logistical shore service support of Navy Region Southwest Asia (which included NSA Bahrain), along with Camp Lemonnier, in Djibouti, Africa, was realigned under the scope of Navy Region Europe. On April 21, 2009, Navy Region Europe officially changed its name to Commander Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia. As an Echelon III Commander, Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia reports directly to the Commander, Naval Installations Command for the operation and readiness of the following subordinate commands/installations: Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia (EURAFSWA) is one of eleven current naval regions