According to africa.businessinsider.com, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman emphasized urgent joint action to secure the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait during talks in Cairo on Tuesday.
Strategic chokepoint under mounting threat
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait—situated between Yemen and the African nations of Djibouti and Eritrea—links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and forms part of the shortest maritime route between Asia and Europe. An estimated 12% of global trade transits the Red Sea corridor. Vessels rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa incur added time, fuel, and insurance costs—directly impacting shipping economics and regional revenues.
The strait’s security is especially critical for Egypt: all vessels approaching the Suez Canal from Asia must first pass through Bab el-Mandeb. The canal remains one of Egypt’s top foreign-currency earners, alongside tourism, exports, and remittances from Egyptians abroad. Houthi attacks beginning in late 2023 triggered widespread vessel diversions, costing Egypt approximately $800 million every month, according to Sisi’s statement in March 2025.
Egypt lost an estimated $7 billion in Suez Canal revenue during 2024. Though revenue recovered by 23% to approximately $4.67 billion in the 2025/2026 financial year, it remains far below the record $8.75 billion generated in 2022/2023. Renewed hostilities near Bab el-Mandeb risk reversing this fragile recovery just as some international carriers resume Red Sea transits.
Houthi advances escalate regional vulnerability
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis have captured key positions along the country’s western Red Sea coast—including strategically located islands near the entrance of Bab el-Mandeb—and intensified missile and drone strikes against Saudi targets. Thirteen civilians were reportedly injured after attacks struck areas around the Khamis Mushait military airbase in southern Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s exposure has deepened following a separate incident that forced the closure of its East-West oil pipeline—a 1,200-kilometre conduit carrying crude from Gulf fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. This infrastructure allows Riyadh to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. With Hormuz already heavily disrupted, any serious obstruction at Bab el-Mandeb would threaten both primary maritime routes for Gulf oil exports to global markets.
Reuters reported that Sisi backed Saudi security measures and supported efforts toward a lasting political settlement in Yemen—underscoring the linkage between maritime security and regional diplomacy. According to Egypt’s presidency, both leaders stressed the need to guarantee safe navigation through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait during the Cairo discussions.
Source: africa.businessinsider.com
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
