Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is locked in a military standoff with Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi have agreed to coordinate a joint response to guarantee navigational safety in the Red Sea.

The meeting between Crown Prince Mohammed and President el-Sisi comes as the Houthis tighten their grip on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the southern entrance to the Red Sea, and ramp up offensives against Saudi Arabia, drawing intense interest in the outcome of their talks.

According to the Egyptian presidency on the 15th (local time), President el-Sisi held a summit in Cairo with Crown Prince Mohammed, who is visiting the country, where they agreed to jointly secure freedom of navigation in key international waters, including the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea.

Mohamed El-Shenawy, spokesperson for the Egyptian presidency, stated that the two leaders held both closed-door bilateral talks and expanded discussions.

The core agenda of the summit was maritime security in the Middle East, where geopolitical risks have recently escalated.

The two leaders shared the view that ensuring the freedom and safety of maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Red Sea is of paramount importance.

In particular, President el-Sisi emphasized that the security of Saudi Arabia and Gulf nations is an integral part of Egypt's national security, strongly condemning any attacks or threats against Saudi sovereignty as well as freedom of navigation in international waters.

This is interpreted as a powerful display of solidarity between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, key regional players, to safeguard maritime security as global supply chains take a hit from the recent blockage of the Strait of Hormuz and Houthi threats in the Red Sea.

President el-Sisi also stated his active support for all measures taken by Saudi Arabia to protect its security and stability.

Furthermore, regarding Yemen, one of the epicenters of maritime threats, he added that Egypt would back Saudi efforts to seek comprehensive and sustainable political solutions.

Crown Prince Mohammed expressed gratitude to Egypt for its steadfast solidarity and support for Saudi Arabia in the face of geopolitical challenges, while praising President el-Sisi's leadership for regional stability and peace.

Last July, the Houthi rebels blamed Saudi Arabia for an airstrike on Yemen's capital airport in Sana'a, which is under their control, and declared an end to a fragile truce.

Subsequently, in response to a blockade targeting them, they declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, attacking Saudi oil tankers transiting the Red Sea while also striking southern Saudi Arabia on land.

In particular, the Houthi rebels, who had seized northwestern Yemen, concentrated their military might southward, taking control of cities and islands around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the gateway to the Red Sea, amplifying concerns over a Red Sea blockade.

Amidst this, Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline was struck by a drone and suspended operations, effectively cutting off all of its oil export routes.

This pipeline has been a primary passage used by Saudi Arabia to bypass the blockaded Strait of Hormuz for oil exports.

Meanwhile, Qatari Foreign Ministry official Ibrahim Al-Hashimi told reporters on the same day, "With the world already suffering enough from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, it cannot afford to absorb an additional crisis in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait."

He stressed that the closure of the southern gateway to the Red Sea would be "catastrophic for the entire world," adding, "We are already witnessing the repercussions, which is why Qatar is actively pursuing a resolution through diplomacy and dialogue."

(Photo: Yonhap News)