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Sisi says Red Sea security is the exclusive responsibility of littoral states
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi defended the exclusive responsibility of littoral states for Red Sea security during a meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in Cairo on Thursday. Sisi also stressed Egypt’s right to protect its annual 55.5 billion cubic meter share of Nile waters and its water security.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said that the decisive responsibility for managing and securing the Red Sea belongs to the countries bordering it. Sisi opposed initiatives that could undermine the region’s stability or militarize or internationalize the Red Sea.
Sisi and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani made these assessments during their meeting in Cairo on Thursday. They discussed maintaining coordination on regional security and stability, alongside developments in the Horn of Africa.
The meeting emphasized the need to respect the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the countries in the region. The importance of ensuring freedom of navigation on international sea routes was also highlighted.
The role of Red Sea littoral states
Sisi said the Red Sea holds a strategic position for Egypt’s national security. Egypt and China had also stated in a joint communiqué issued at the end of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Cairo that littoral states bear the primary responsibility for managing and securing the Red Sea.
The two countries called for full respect for the will of littoral states, stronger regional cooperation against common threats, and the protection of maritime trade and freedom of navigation.
Egypt rejects the landlocked Ethiopia’s efforts to gain access to the sea. While Cairo maintains that its position is based on international law, Ethiopia continues to demand maritime access to support its development.
The debate over water security on the Nile
Describing the Nile River as Egypt’s main source of life and a national security issue, Sisi said his country had a legitimate right to protect its water and food security as well as its development interests.
Sisi said they would not accept any unilateral action on the river and called for compliance with the rules of international law, particularly the principle of causing no harm.
Egypt is concerned that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, built by Ethiopia on the Nile, could affect its annual water share of 55.5 billion cubic meters. Ethiopia does not accept Egypt’s demand for a binding agreement on filling and operating the dam, including during periods of drought.
Tensions with Iran and Egypt-Italy relations
Sisi shared his assessment with Tajani on containing regional tensions linked to Israel’s attack on Iran. Egypt’s efforts to reduce tensions in the Middle East and limit their impact on the region’s security and stability were also among the topics discussed.
Regarding bilateral relations, they discussed the importance of implementing the decisions of the Egypt-Italy joint committee aimed at developing trade and investment cooperation. Sisi called for advancing cooperation in energy, education, maritime transport, agriculture and tourism.
Tajani said Italy wanted to deepen cooperation with Egypt and attached importance to maintaining coordination in combating irregular migration.
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