Egypt, Eritrea reject non-littoral states' imposition of security role in Red Sea

CAIRO – 19 July 2026: The foreign ministers of Egypt and Eritrea have reaffirmed that the security and governance of the Red Sea are the exclusive responsibility of the countries bordering it.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Eritrean counterpart, Osman Saleh, made the remarks during a meeting in Cairo on Sunday, where they discussed the Red Sea security, regional crises, as well as bilateral ties.

They affirmed their countries’ rejection of any attempts by non-littoral parties to impose security arrangements or roles or secure maritime access in the strategic waterway in violation of international law.

They exchanged views on developments in the Horn of Africa, with Abdelatty outlining Egypt's position on the situations in Sudan and Somalia.

He reiterated Egypt's commitment to preserving security and stability in the Horn of Africa, describing the region as a direct extension of Egypt's national security.

Abdelatty also stressed the importance of supporting national state institutions, preserving the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the region, and rejecting unilateral measures that could undermine state sovereignty or regional stability.

Egypt and Eritrea have stepped up coordination on Red Sea security amid growing threats to navigation and rising tensions in the Horn of Africa.

During a meeting in June, the presidents of the two countries reaffirmed their cooperation on safeguarding the security of the Red Sea and ensuring freedom of navigation.

They also stressed that the governance, security and stability of the waterway are the exclusive responsibility of its littoral states.

Meanwhile, they underscored the importance of Egyptian-Eritrean coordination in preserving stability in the Horn of Africa.