Egypt and Saudi Arabia draw red lines in the Red Sea and Sudan

This came during a phone call made by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty, within the framework of ongoing coordination and consultation between Cairo and Riyadh regarding regional developments.

During the call, the two ministers discussed the fraternal and strategic relations between the two countries, and ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields, before they touched on a number of regional files, including developments related to Iran, the security of the Red Sea, and the situation in Sudan.

Abdel Ati renewed Egypt's condemnation of all attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, stressing Cairo's full support for the Kingdom's security and stability, in a position that reflects continued coordination between the two countries regarding the security threats facing the region.

Regarding the navigation file, the two ministers agreed on the need to maintain the security and freedom of ship movement in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, which are two of the most important sea lanes linking trade routes between Asia and Europe via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.

The importance of the Red Sea for Egypt and Saudi Arabia acquires a dimension that goes beyond the security of commercial navigation, in light of its connection to the security of the Suez Canal on the one hand, and the security of the western coasts of Saudi Arabia and the passages leading to the Bab al-Mandab Strait on the other hand, in addition to the repercussions of regional tensions on the movement of trade and supply chains.

This position comes in the context of repeated contacts between Cairo and Riyadh in recent months, which focused on developments in Iran, Yemen, and the Red Sea, in addition to emphasizing support for Saudi Arabia’s security and refusing to target its lands.

Sudan was the second most prominent issue in the talks, as Egypt and Saudi Arabia reaffirmed their position in support of Sudan’s unity and sovereignty, while stressing the importance of preserving its national institutions as a basis for maintaining the country’s security and stability and meeting the aspirations of its people.

The emphasis on Sudan's unity comes in light of the continuation of the war that broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, and the wide humanitarian, security and political repercussions it left behind, as well as regional fears about the impact of the continuation of the conflict on the security of neighboring countries and the Red Sea.

Egyptian and Saudi interests intersect in the Sudanese file, as Cairo is linked to Sudan’s security by virtue of its geographical proximity and historical ties, while Riyadh views the stability of Sudan and the Red Sea as part of its regional security, and Jeddah has previously hosted talks and diplomatic efforts to reach a cessation of fighting and protect civilians.