Saudi Crown Prince and Egypt's President discuss Red Sea security amid Houthi attacks

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al‑Sisi met in Cairo on Tuesday and jointly called for free and secure navigation in the Red Sea. The leaders emphasized the importance of maintaining open shipping lanes for regional trade and humanitarian aid, underscoring the strategic significance of the waterway for both nations.

During the talks, Saudi Arabia pledged to respond “firmly” to any further attacks by Yemen’s Iran‑backed Houthi movement, which has increasingly threatened the Bab al‑Mandab Strait, a critical chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Both officials highlighted the growing security risk posed by the group’s control of the strait and reiterated a coordinated approach to counter the threat. The discussion was reported by France 24’s Emerald Maxwell.