Egypt, Djibouti stress importance of restoring security in Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab

Egypt and Djibouti stressed the importance of working to restore security in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and normal navigation in the Red Sea.

This came during the reception of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, on Sunday, of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the official spokesman for the government in Djibouti, Mahmoud Ali Youssef, in the presence of Badr Abdel Aati, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Egyptian Affairs Abroad, and Ambassador Ahmed Ali Barre, Ambassador of Djibouti to Cairo.

A statement by the Egyptian presidency stated that the meeting reviewed, in addition to bilateral relations, the situation in the Red Sea, and the efforts made to restore security and stability in the region.

He explained that it was agreed on the importance of joint action to ensure the restoration of security in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and normal navigation in the Red Sea.

Late last December, Egypt announced that it would lose nearly $7 billion in Suez Canal revenues in 2024, due to Houthi attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab.

In November 2023, the Iran-backed Houthi militia launched drone and missile attacks on cargo ships sailing in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab and the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen, saying it was in support of Gaza, which has been subjected to an Israeli war of extermination since October 7, 2023. These attacks continued until last January, when the militia announced a halt to its attacks, with the exception of Israeli ships.

These attacks negatively affected shipping, trade and global supply chains, as many companies resorted to longer routes for safety, and also harmed the economies of the Red Sea countries, especially Egypt.