Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and U.S. President Donald Trump engaged in discussions regarding mediation efforts aimed at restoring stability in the region, which would positively influence navigation in the Red Sea and mitigate economic losses for all involved parties, as stated by the Egyptian presidency on Tuesday.
Since the onset of Israel’s conflict with Hamas in late 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have launched over 100 attacks on shipping, claiming these actions are in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza.
These assaults have disrupted international trade and prompted the U.S. military to initiate an expensive campaign to intercept missiles.
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Earlier on Tuesday, Trump mentioned that he and Sisi had talked about the advancements made against the Houthis, as the White House continues its most significant military operations against the Yemeni group since March 15 during Trump’s administration.
Trump indicated that the military strikes were a direct response to the Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and cautioned Iran, the primary supporter of the Houthis, to cease its backing of the group immediately.
In messages inadvertently shared with a journalist from The Atlantic magazine in March, which revealed U.S. military strategies against the Houthis, one U.S. official noted that Trump had approved the Yemen plans but emphasized that “we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return.”
The Egyptian statement did not reference these messages or the U.S. military actions against the Houthis.
Egypt has felt the repercussions of the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea region since November 2023, leading vessels to avoid the Suez Canal and reroute trade around Africa, which has increased shipping expenses.
In December, Sisi reported that the disruptions had resulted in approximately $7 billion in lost revenue from the Suez Canal for Egypt in 2024.
