Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the President of Egypt, during a meeting with Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, expressed support for Saudi calls for safe and unobstructed navigation in the Red Sea and emphasized the importance of the two countries' relations. This meeting took place on Tuesday in Cairo and included other Saudi officials, including Faisal bin Farhan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Emphasis on Egypt-Saudi Relations
A statement released by the Egyptian presidency stated that "the relationship between Egypt and Saudi Arabia can only be exemplary within an Arab framework, and the security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries is an inseparable part of Egypt's national security." The statement also emphasized efforts to achieve a sustainable political solution to the Yemen crisis. In recent days, the Yemeni government, supported by Saudi Arabia, has lost key areas, including coastal regions vital for oil transportation, to Iranian-backed Houthis.
Navigation Challenges in the Red Sea
Mohammed bin Salman emphasized the importance of safe navigation in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea during this meeting. This comes as Houthi rebels in Yemen recently seized the port of Mocha and have control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Although the Houthis have stated that maritime traffic in the Red Sea will not be affected, in recent months, vessels associated with Saudi Arabia have been targeted by this group.
A significant reduction in traffic in the Red Sea has had a considerable impact on Egypt's economy, as the country heavily relies on Suez Canal tolls as one of its main sources of foreign currency. According to Suez Canal officials, Egypt has lost nearly $7 billion, equivalent to 60% of Suez Canal revenues, in the years 2023 to 2024.
Despite these challenges, Egypt has refrained from military action to prevent Houthi disruptions to tanker traffic in the Red Sea. This situation significantly highlights the security and economic challenges that Egypt faces and further necessitates international cooperation for maritime security.
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