Egypt's President Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince MBS Discuss Red Sea Security Amid Regional Tensions

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi held a high-level meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Cairo on Tuesday, where he expressed strong backing for Saudi calls to ensure secure and unhindered navigation in the Red Sea.

The talks included a Saudi delegation featuring Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and other senior officials. During the discussions, President el-Sisi affirmed Egypt's support for Saudi Arabia's national security and stability, alongside ongoing efforts to secure a sustainable political solution to the conflict in Yemen.

The diplomatic engagement comes as the Saudi-backed Yemeni government recently lost vital territories, including key coastal regions used for oil shipping, to the Iran-aligned Houthis. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman underscored the critical need for maritime security in both the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea.

Amid these developments, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have captured Mocha port and gained effective control over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Although the group has issued assurances that Red Sea maritime traffic will remain unaffected, several Saudi-linked ships have faced targeted attacks in recent months.

These disruptions have severely impacted Egypt's economy, which depends significantly on Suez Canal tolls as a primary source of foreign currency. Data from the Suez Canal Authority indicates that Egypt suffered losses of approximately $7bn between 2023 and 2024, representing about 60 percent of the canal's revenues. Despite these mounting economic pressures, Egypt has thus far refrained from taking military action against the Houthi disruptions affecting tanker traffic in the region.