Egyptian, Singaporean FMs discuss necessity to enhance maritime security in Red Sea

CAIRO - 18 March 2026: Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptians Abroad, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, received a phone call on Wednesday from Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore's Minister of Foreign Affairs.

 

The two ministers discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and tackled the latest regional developments.

 

Ambassador Tamim Khallaf, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the Foreign Minister expressed his appreciation for the distinguished bilateral relations between the two countries.

 

FM Abdelatty further noted his aspiration to consolidate joint efforts to elevate the level of bilateral cooperation in all fields, reflecting the depth of relations between the two countries, especially as they celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.

 

The Egyptian Foreign Minister also emphasized the importance of activating bilateral cooperation mechanisms in various fields, particularly in economy, trade, and investment. This comes in addition to highlighting the importance of promoting cooperation between the private sectors of both countries and following up on the outcomes of the Singaporean President's visit to Egypt in September 2015, which saw the signing of numerous agreements and memoranda of understanding.

 

The official spokesperson added that the Foreign Minister expressed Egypt’s keenness to bolster Singaporean investments in the Egyptian market in numerous vital sectors, most notably logistics, technology, semiconductor manufacturing, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and modern financial systems, as well as waste recycling and renewable energy, particularly green hydrogen and solar power.

 

He also emphasized the importance of joint efforts to enhance connectivity between Egyptian and Singaporean ports and support their digitization, thereby facilitating increased the access of Egyptian exports to the Singaporean and Asian markets.

 

Minister Abdelatty also reviewed the serious developments unfolding in the Middle East, highlighting the direct repercussions of the current military escalation on international maritime security and the stability of global supply chains.

 

He pointed out that the escalating tensions in the region pose unprecedented challenges to international trade, especially given the threats to the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial artery for global energy transport.

 

He explained that these developments directly impact shipping and insurance costs, leading to disruptions in the flow of essential commodities, including oil, gas, food, and fertilizers, which exacerbates the pressures on economies, particularly developing ones.

 

In this context, the two ministers condemned the Iranian attacks targeting brotherly Gulf states, highlighting that there is no justification for such attacks and warning of the serious repercussions of military escalation and the expansion of the conflict.

 

They also emphasized the importance of de-escalation, prioritizing diplomatic solutions, and adopting dialogue as the primary means to prevent the region from sliding into further instability.

 

The Foreign Minister also addressed developments in the Red Sea, emphasizing that any threat to maritime security in the Red Sea affects not only the countries of the region but also the entire global economy. He stressed the necessity of strengthening maritime security in the Red Sea and maintaining it as a safe and stable waterway that serves the interests of all countries.

 

For his part, the Singaporean Foreign Minister expressed his country’s appreciation for the pivotal role that Egypt plays in securing navigation in the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, which supports the stability of global trade.