Egypt Rejects Military Access to Red Sea for Landlocked Countries

Egypt will not accept military access to the Red Sea by countries that do not border it, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Thursday, 15 October, while stressing that commercial access remains possible through agreements with coastal states.

Speaking in an interview with Asharq Bloomberg, Abdelatty said Egypt rejects military access to the Red Sea by landlocked countries under any circumstances, maintaining that responsibility for governing the waterway should remain with countries along its coast.

He distinguished between military and commercial access, explaining that landlocked countries could use Red Sea ports for trade provided they reach agreements with the countries concerned.

Abdelatty also said Egypt was coordinating with Saudi Arabia to activate an initiative bringing together countries bordering the Red Sea to strengthen regional cooperation and maritime security.

The initiative builds on the Council of Arab and African States Bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, established in January 2020. The council comprises eight countries: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, and Yemen.

The council was created to strengthen political, economic, and security cooperation among its members, including efforts to protect maritime navigation and address threats to regional stability.

Abdelatty’s remarks come as Ethiopia continues to seek access to the Red Sea, having been landlocked since Eritrea gained independence in 1993.