Egypt emphasises security of the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait

Cairo (ANTARA) - Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasised on Monday (28/9) the need to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

He also asserted that the security of these waters is the responsibility of the Arab and African countries that border them directly, according to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Abdelatty made these remarks during a meeting with Hans Grundberg, the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, in Cairo. During the meeting, they discussed recent developments in Yemen and their impact on regional security, according to the statement.

Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s support for the unity of Yemen and its legitimate national institutions, emphasising the necessity of a peaceful solution to the crisis to contribute to Yemeni stability. He also expressed Egypt’s support for efforts to achieve a comprehensive political solution that meets the aspirations of the Yemeni people and preserves the nation’s resources.

Abdelatty stressed the importance of Yemeni stability for the security of the Red Sea and regional security in general, stating that the security of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden is directly linked to the global economy, particularly international trade and the supply chains for food and energy.

Fighting between Yemeni government forces and Houthi groups has recently escalated in southwestern Yemen, after the group seized the strategic port city of Mocha and Mayyun Island in the Bab al-Mandab Strait earlier this month.

The Yemeni conflict erupted in late 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in March 2015 to support the internationally recognised Yemeni government.