Egypt: al-Sissi and Mohammed bin Salman call for free navigation in the Red Sea

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi and Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman called for free and safe navigation in the Red Sea as Houthi rebels control the Yemeni coast. This situation threatens access to Asian markets for Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter. The takeover of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait is crucial for Saudi oil exports and Egyptian revenues from the Suez Canal, which fell to $4.67 billion for the 2025/2026 fiscal year.