Egypt Backs Saudi Push to Secure Red Sea Shipping Routes Following Cairo Talks

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has reaffirmed Cairo’s full support for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to ensure safe and unhindered maritime navigation across the Red Sea and adjacent waterways. The endorsement came during high-level bilateral talks in the Egyptian capital with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as mounting regional security challenges continue to threaten vital international shipping lanes.

The meeting took place on Tuesday in Cairo, where President el-Sisi hosted the Saudi crown prince, widely known as MBS, alongside an influential Saudi delegation that included Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and several other high-ranking officials. The discussions focused extensively on shared security interests, regional stability, and the growing disruption to maritime trade corridors that are vital to both nations.

Following the discussions, the Egyptian presidency issued an official statement underscoring the deep strategic partnership between Cairo and Riyadh. The presidency emphasized that bilateral relations serve as an exemplary model for Arab cooperation, reiterating that the national security of Saudi Arabia and the broader Gulf states remains an indivisible component of Egypt’s own national defense and strategic priorities.

During the summit, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman underscored the pressing need to restore and maintain unimpeded navigation through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, according to reports carried by the Saudi Press Agency. Both leaders stressed that the continuous flow of global commerce through these strategic choke points is indispensable for international trade and economic stability.

The diplomatic engagement in Cairo comes against the backdrop of an increasingly volatile situation in Yemen. Both leaders used the platform to emphasize the necessity of achieving a sustainable, long-term political resolution to the enduring conflict in Yemen, where recent developments on the battlefield have significantly altered the balance of power along the coastline.

The urgency of the Cairo talks was heightened by recent battlefield setbacks suffered by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. In recent days, government forces have lost control of critical areas to the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, including strategically vital coastal zones that are central to regional oil shipping routes and maritime surveillance.

Among the most significant recent military shifts has been the Houthi forces' capture of the strategic Red Sea port city of Mocha. The seizure of Mocha has effectively placed the crucial Bab al-Mandeb Strait under Houthi control, granting the group enhanced leverage over one of the world's most heavily trafficked maritime transit corridors.

While Houthi authorities have issued public assurances asserting that commercial maritime traffic across the Red Sea would proceed without interference, attacks on vessels have continued. In recent months, ships with ties to Saudi Arabia have been repeatedly singled out and targeted by Houthi operations, undermining confidence in the safety of the corridor.

The sustained maritime insecurity and resulting ship diversions have dealt a severe blow to Egypt’s domestic economy. Egypt depends heavily on the Suez Canal as a primary gateway for maritime trade and an essential generator of foreign exchange, making the waterway's operational volume a critical pillar of national financial health.

According to data from the Suez Canal Authority, the sharp drop in commercial vessels navigating the Red Sea corridor resulted in an estimated revenue loss of $7 billion between 2023 and 2024. This dramatic downturn represents an approximate 60 percent plunge in canal toll earnings over that two-year period.

The steep drop in Suez Canal receipts has exacerbated broader economic pressures facing Egypt, underscoring the direct financial stake Cairo holds in seeing maritime stability restored along the southern approaches to the canal. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait serves as the southern gateway directly feeding maritime traffic into the Red Sea and onward to the Suez Canal.

Despite suffering substantial fiscal losses from the maritime crisis, Egypt has thus far deliberately avoided launching direct military action against the Houthi fighters responsible for disrupting tanker and cargo traffic. Cairo has instead prioritized diplomatic coordination and regional dialogue to address the threats to freedom of navigation.

The high-level Cairo summit reflects a concerted effort by both Egypt and Saudi Arabia to harmonize their strategic positions as regional dynamics grow more complex. By presenting a unified stance on freedom of navigation and Gulf security, both leaderships aimed to project diplomatic resolve while continuing to advocate for a comprehensive political framework to de-escalate the conflict in Yemen.