Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have called for maintaining safe and unrestricted navigation through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea, Egypt’s presidency said on Tuesday.
During their talks, Sisi voiced support for Saudi Arabia’s measures to safeguard its security and stability.
He also backed efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive and lasting political settlement to the conflict in Yemen.
The discussions came as concerns grow over the security of key international shipping routes in the region. Qatar warned Tuesday that any closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could have severe global repercussions.
Qatar Foreign Ministry official Ibrahim Al Hashmi said the international community was already facing serious consequences from the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz and could not afford another major disruption at Bab el-Mandeb.
He described a possible closure of the waterway at the southern entrance to the Red Sea as “catastrophic for the entire world” and said Qatar was advocating diplomacy and dialogue to prevent further escalation.
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