Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty said that Egypt is working intensively to help reach an understanding between the US and Iran that could contain tensions, end the current war, and prevent the conflict from spreading across the region.
“We are working day and night to reach an agreement on a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran to put an end to the war and prevent it from having repercussions across the region,” Abdelatty said.
He added that these efforts are also aimed at upholding the established principles of international law, particularly freedom of navigation, while rejecting any attempts by any country to obstruct international maritime routes.
In statements to MENA during a joint press conference held by Abdelatty and his Eritrean counterpart Osman Saleh Mohammed on concerns over the possibility of the conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the US extending to the Strait of Bab el Mandeb, the Red Sea, and the Horn of Africa, especially amid increasing interest by regional and international actors in the strategic waterway.
The top diplomat affirmed that Egypt is working closely with Saudi Arabia and the Arab and African countries bordering the Red Sea, including Eritrea, Sudan, Jordan, Somalia, and Yemen, to preserve security and stability in the Red Sea, Bab el Mandeb, and the Gulf of Aden.
He also added that Egypt is also focused on addressing the root causes of instability in the region, particularly the situation in Yemen, through support for a comprehensive political process that could help end the current crisis and contribute to regional peace and stability.
Regarding proposals for broader cooperation among Red Sea countries, similar to the Union for the Mediterranean, Abdelatty said current efforts are focused on activating the Council of Arab and African Coastal States of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
He added that Egypt maintains daily coordination with Saudi Arabia and other member states to accelerate the council’s activation and strengthen its role.
The foreign minister said the council remains the main framework for promoting security, stability, and cooperation among countries bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
