Saudi Arabia and Egypt call for secure Red Sea shipping routes

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo on Tuesday, with both leaders calling for free and secure navigation through the Red Sea. The meeting focused on the threat posed by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement, which controls territory near the strategically vital Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Saudi Arabia stated it would respond "firmly" to the Houthi attacks that have recently disrupted shipping through this critical maritime corridor. The Bab al-Mandab Strait is one of the world's busiest shipping routes, carrying a significant share of oil and other cargo traffic between Asia, Africa and Europe.

Regional coordination

The Cairo talks reflect efforts by Saudi Arabia and Egypt to align their positions against the Houthi threat, which affects both countries' economic and security interests. The Houthis' control over parts of Yemeni territory allows the group to influence vessel traffic through the strait connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

The two leaders expressed a shared position on the need to keep the Red Sea open and secure for trade. No specific measures that Saudi Arabia plans to take against the Houthi attacks were officially announced.