Egypt and Eritrea on Sunday completely rejected any attempts by non-littoral parties to enforce maritime access or impose security arrangements in the Red Sea in violation of international law.
The declaration, which also stressed that Red Sea administration remains the exclusive responsibility of its bordering states, came as Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty met with his Eritrean counterpart, Osman Saleh, to coordinate stances on regional issues, according to foreign ministry spokesperson Tamim Khalaf.
Exchanging views on developments in the Horn of Africa, including the situations in Sudan and Somalia, Abdelatty affirmed that Egypt considers the security and stability of the region a direct extension of its own national security. He emphasised the importance of supporting national state institutions and maintaining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the region, rejecting any unilateral measures that could compromise state sovereignty or undermine regional stability.
During the talks, Abdelatty underscored Egypt’s full support for Eritrea’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. He commended the outcomes of Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki’s recent visit to Egypt and stressed the importance of building on the April 2026 visit to Egypt by the Eritrean president’s economic advisor.
The Egyptian foreign minister also highlighted the joint visit he made to Asmara last May alongside Egypt’s transport minister and a delegation of businessmen. That visit included the activation of a maritime transport cooperation agreement signed in the Eritrean capital.
Looking to expand economic ties, Abdelatty expressed an aspiration to increase trade exchange, encourage joint investments, and support the participation of the Egyptian private sector in the Eritrean market. Priority sectors identified include mining, infrastructure, maritime transport, port connectivity, the development and upgrading of Eritrean ports, pharmaceuticals, fisheries, and housing.
Additionally, the ministers discussed enhancing technical cooperation in capacity building through training courses organised by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development to address the specific needs and priorities of the Eritrean side.