Saudi Arabia and Egypt press for Red Sea security as Crown Prince visits Cairo

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman emphasized the importance of enhanced security measures for the Red Sea and shipping lanes during a meeting in Cairo on Tuesday. The two leaders discussed the recent Houthi missile and drone attacks that targeted Saudi cities, prompting Riyadh to temporarily shut down an essential oil pipeline to the Red Sea.

Prince Mohammed arrived in Cairo from Jeddah, where he had met with the US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper following the attacks that injured at least 73 people in Saudi Arabia. Egypt and Saudi Arabia stressed their shared commitment to the security of both nations and the broader Gulf region, with the Egyptian presidency condemning threats to the kingdom.

Both leaders reiterated their support for the implementation of the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for the Middle East, which calls for a just and comprehensive settlement based on a two-state solution for the Palestinian issue. They also called for the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and an end to Israeli violations in the strip, occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem.

Egypt-Saudi economic ties were highlighted during the meeting, with both nations agreeing to increase practical measures to expand bilateral cooperation and remove obstacles to trade and investment. Egypt-Saudi trade in material goods reached approximately $7.1 billion in the first half of 2024, a 20 percent increase compared to the previous year, and Egyptian investments in Saudi Arabia amounted to around $25 billion.

The two leaders also expressed their shared positions on the Palestinian issue during a call on September 3, invoking the "unity of destiny" between Egypt and Saudi Arabia.