DID Press: Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo on Tuesday, September 15, with regional developments and the security of key maritime routes in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait at the center of discussions.
The two leaders stressed the importance of maintaining the freedom and security of navigation in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz. Al-Sisi also reaffirmed Egypt’s support for measures taken by Saudi Arabia to safeguard its security and stability, while supporting efforts toward a comprehensive political solution to the conflict in Yemen.
The meeting comes amid escalating attacks by Yemen’s Ansar Allah (Houthi movement) against Saudi targets and growing concerns over the security of maritime routes and Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea. Recent reporting has linked the worsening security situation to increased regional coordination between Riyadh and Cairo.
The talks also come amid discussion over the possibility of Egypt joining the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed the agreement in Makkah on August 7, 2026. The pact states that an armed attack against one of the three signatories would be regarded as an attack against all three and calls for expanded defense cooperation.
Egypt has been considering the possibility of joining the agreement, although Egyptian officials have indicated that legal and constitutional issues would need to be addressed before any decision is made. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has also said Egypt could potentially join the pact.
The latest Saudi-Egyptian discussions therefore come as both countries face growing security and economic concerns surrounding the Red Sea and its major maritime chokepoints.