Egypt-Saudi Leaders Unite to Secure Safe Passage Through Red Sea

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi joined Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for talks in Cairo on Tuesday. The meeting focused on a shared demand for safe passage through the Red Sea. A statement released by the Egyptian presidency confirmed this stance. It noted that ties between Egypt and Saudi Arabia remain exemplary within the Arab world. Security for Saudi Arabia and Gulf states is treated as part of Egypt's own national security now. Both sides pushed hard for a lasting political fix to the Yemen conflict. The Saudi-backed government in Sanaa has lost key coastal lands recently. These areas are critical for shipping oil globally. Iran-aligned Houthi rebels control them instead.

MBS stressed that navigation must stay open at Bab al-Mandeb and throughout the Red Sea. This warning came after Houthi fighters seized Mocha port earlier this week. They now effectively rule the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Although Houthis claim maritime traffic remains safe, linked ships have been hit repeatedly. Saudi-linked vessels faced attacks over recent months despite their own promises of safety.

The economic toll on Egypt has been severe and measurable. Cairo relies heavily on Suez Canal fees to bring in foreign currency. Revenue from the canal fell by roughly $7bn between 2023 and 2024. That loss represents about sixty percent of total income for the authority running the waterway. The drop hurt the national budget badly during that two-year span. Even with strong assurances from Cairo, Egypt has not launched military strikes yet. No action was taken to stop Houthis from disrupting tanker traffic so far.