Sisi to Prince Mohammed bin Salman: Egypt and Saudi Arabia's interests are one

Following President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s reception of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Cairo on Tuesday, el-Sisi affirmed that the interests and objectives of the two countries are one and the same.

He further clarified that the meeting witnessed agreement between the Egyptian President and the Saudi Crown Prince that relations between the two nations can only be optimal within the Arab framework. El-Sisi stressed that Saudi Arabia’s security and that of the Gulf states is part of Egypt’s national security, while expressing his full reservation, rejection, and condemnation of any attacks or threats targeting the Kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, or freedom of navigation in international sea lanes.

Both sides affirmed that current circumstances necessitate greater solidarity and coordination between the two countries, reiterating that their interests and objectives are unified.

The two leaders also agreed on the need to intensify efforts to formulate and implement practical measures to develop bilateral cooperation and remove any obstacles hindering the growth of trade and investment, thereby elevating relations to a level commensurate with the historical ties and strategic proximity between Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Furthermore, the official spokesperson stated that the talks addressed regional developments, with el-Sisi reiterating Egypt’s firm stance in supporting Saudi Arabia and all Arab states in the face of current regional circumstances.

The Egyptian and Saudi positions, keen on ensuring freedom and security of maritime navigation in the Straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab, as well as in the Red Sea, were reaffirmed. El-Sisi emphasized Egypt’s support for Saudi measures to protect its security and stability, and for reaching a comprehensive and sustainable political solution to the Yemeni crisis.

Regarding the Palestinian issue, the meeting saw an affirmation of the alignment between Egyptian and Saudi positions on the Palestinian file, and the necessity of achieving a just and comprehensive settlement based on the two-state solution and resolutions of international legitimacy.

Emphasis was placed on the need to implement the commitments of the second phase of the US President’s peace plan and UN Security Council Resolution 2803, alongside the urgent entry of sufficient humanitarian aid into Gaza and the cessation of Israeli violations in the Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.

The spokesperson also noted that the continued support of Egypt and Saudi Arabia for the security and stability of Sudan was discussed. Both sides rejected equating the Sudanese Armed Forces with any militias or parallel illegal entities, stressing that any threat to Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity poses a danger to the collective security of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and all countries in the region.

Concluding the briefing, the spokesperson pointed out that the meeting also saw an affirmation of shared Egyptian-Saudi positions supporting the sovereignty and stability of all Arab states. The two leaders agreed to continue consultations and direct coordination in the coming period regarding various bilateral issues and regional developments.

For his part, the Saudi Crown Prince expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome and stressed the deep-rooted fraternal bonds between the two countries.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman also commended the continuous development of bilateral relations and the mutual commitment to continuing coordination and joint cooperation, as well as exploring new horizons for collaboration across various fields.

It is worth noting that navigation in the Bab al-Mandab Strait directly affects Egypt, as it constitutes the southern gateway to the vital Suez Canal, one of the country’s main sources of revenue. Amidst escalating tensions in the region following the war between the US and Iran, Suez Canal revenues for the fiscal year 2025/2026 reached approximately half of what they were before the Houthi militias began attacking ships in the Red Sea in 2023, coinciding with the war in Gaza, recording $4.67 billion.

Last week, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stated that the revenue lost by his country due to the decline in shipping traffic through the Suez Canal amounted to $11 billion.