Sisi Backs MBS in Cairo as Houthi Advances Threaten Red Sea and Suez Canal

Key points

• MBS met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo to discuss securing Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait navigation.
• Egypt lost approximately $7 billion in Suez Canal revenues between 2023 and 2024 due to Houthi disruptions of Red Sea shipping.
• Saudi Arabia has rerouted oil exports through the Egyptian Sumed pipeline to bypass Houthi attacks, though this increases shipping times and costs.
• Houthi forces have captured the port of Mocha and control the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, threatening global trade and energy routes.
• Analysts suggest Egypt will provide political support rather than military intervention, citing past failures of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

Background

This diplomatic push follows earlier Saudi efforts to secure U.S. military assistance and reroute oil through Egypt to bypass Houthi attacks. The Houthis have intensified their campaign, capturing key ports and threatening the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which has led to significant disruptions in Red Sea shipping and oil exports. Saudi Arabia has been seeking regional support to counter the Houthis, with Egypt playing a key role due to its control of the Suez Canal and its pipeline infrastructure.

How outlets are covering it

AP News emphasizes the humanitarian impact of the conflict, noting that fighting has killed over 500 people in the last week and displaced nearly 94,000 people. Al Jazeera highlights the economic impact on Egypt, noting the $7 billion loss in Suez Canal revenues and the political backing Sisi provided to MBS. Yahoo focuses on the diplomatic and military aspects, noting that Saudi Arabia and Egypt are demanding open Red Sea navigation and that MBS is seeking political support from Arab nations. The sources differ in their emphasis, with AP focusing on the humanitarian crisis, Al Jazeera on the economic impact, and Yahoo on the diplomatic and military aspects.

Why it matters

The Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait have significant implications for global trade and energy security. The disruption of Red Sea shipping has led to significant economic losses for Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and the conflict has the potential to escalate into a broader regional conflict. The diplomatic push by Saudi Arabia and Egypt to secure Red Sea navigation is a key development in the ongoing conflict, and the outcome of these efforts will have significant implications for the region and global trade.

What to watch

The next steps will likely involve further diplomatic efforts by Saudi Arabia and Egypt to secure Red Sea navigation and counter the Houthi attacks. There may also be further military action by Saudi Arabia and its allies to counter the Houthis, though analysts suggest that direct military intervention by Egypt is unlikely. The conflict has the potential to escalate into a broader regional conflict, and the outcome of these efforts will have significant implications for the region and global trade.