Alexandria offered a safer approach to Malta than Gibraltar because British territory and the Mediterranean Fleet's base supported the eastern route. Ships arriving from the west had to approach Sicily and Italian North Africa, where enemy forces could detect them and attack from several directions. The fall of Crete made it harder to keep Alexandria as Malta's principal supply route. Britain's main naval strength was at home, so the safer approach did not always match the direction from which reinforcements arrived.
Notable Point · 8:10-9:34
Why Alexandria offered Malta a safer supply route
The eastern route used British territory in Egypt, while ships approaching from Gibraltar faced Sicily and Italian North Africa.