According to the top diplomats of Egypt and Eritrea who participated in high-level international consultations, the issue of the security and governance of the Red Sea maritime channel is exclusively within the jurisdiction of the countries that have access to this sea.
During the international consultations, which took place on the margin of the United Nations General Assembly, the foreign ministers of Egypt, Badr Abdelatty, and Eritrea, Osman Saleh, managed to present a common position with regard to the issues of the regional maritime area. According to official spokesman Nader Zaki, both leaderships treat maritime stability on the route, which is strategically important for commerce, as the sole responsibility of the states of the coast.
Beyond security priorities, the bilateral talks centered heavily on economic cooperation, trade expansions, and institutional capacity-building initiatives. Minister Abdelatty highlighted prospective opportunities for Egyptian private enterprise participation across key Eritrean growth sectors, including infrastructure, mining ventures, maritime transportation, and port development projects.
Additional target areas for commercial synergy include pharmaceutical supplies and fisheries development. To accelerate these efforts, Egypt formally extended an invitation to Eritrean corporate leaders to attend the upcoming Alamein Africa Forum, which takes place in El Alamein from October 2 to 4 alongside the African Union Mid-Year Coordination Summit.
Navigating the wider geopolitical climate, both ministers reviewed ongoing crises across the Horn of Africa, placing particular emphasis on restoring calm in Sudan and Somalia. Cairo reiterated its commitment to fortifying legitimate state institutions across neighboring countries to insulate the region from persistent security threats.
This diplomatic engagement follows recent bilateral progress between Cairo and Asmara, including newly established maritime transport agreements aimed at launching direct cargo shipping routes between Egyptian and Eritrean commercial ports. By combining logistical connectivity with joint security frameworks, both governments aim to foster sustainable economic integration and regional peace. Both sides concluded the summit by agreeing to sustain close diplomatic coordination on cross-border challenges impacting North and East Africa.
