Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman travelled to Egypt to seek political support as attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels threaten shipping routes and Saudi Arabia’s oil exports.
The crown prince met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo on Sept 15 as fighting and tensions around the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait intensified.
Following the meeting, the two countries stressed the importance of maintaining freedom and security of maritime navigation through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb. Egypt also expressed support for measures taken by Saudi Arabia to protect its security and stability.
Egypt is not expected to send military forces to support Saudi Arabia, but its influence in the Arab world could provide Riyadh with important diplomatic backing as it responds to the Houthi offensive.
The Houthis have recently made significant advances along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including taking the port of Mokha and strategic islands near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Their gains have raised concerns over the security of one of the world’s major maritime routes.
The developments are particularly significant for Saudi Arabia because the kingdom has increasingly relied on Red Sea routes to transport oil after disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia is also dealing with damage to its East-West oil pipeline following an attack that officials have linked to Iran-aligned militias in Iraq. The pipeline is expected to remain largely shut for weeks while repairs are carried out, potentially reducing oil supplies to international markets.
Saudi military officials separately said they intercepted and destroyed a drone near Mecca before it entered the city’s airspace. Saudi authorities described the security of the holy city as a priority, while the Houthis denied launching a drone toward Mecca.
Houthi officials also said Saudi airstrikes in Yemen’s Taiz province killed three people, including two children. The Associated Press said it could not independently verify the claim.
The renewed fighting has raised concerns about a wider disruption to regional energy supplies and shipping. The Red Sea has become increasingly important as instability around the Strait of Hormuz continues to affect global trade and energy markets.
Egypt has also faced economic pressure from disruptions to Red Sea shipping. Reduced traffic through the Suez Canal has affected one of the country’s important sources of foreign revenue.
The latest developments leave Saudi Arabia facing difficult decisions over how to respond to the Houthi advance while seeking to protect its infrastructure, oil exports and shipping routes without triggering a broader escalation in Yemen.
Leave a Reply