FM Abdelatty made his call during a meeting in Cairo with Rear Admiral Vasileios Gryparis, Operation Commander of the European Union´s Naval Force in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR ASPIDES), an EU mission tasked with protecting international shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen's Houthis.

Abdelatty highlighted the significant impact of security threats on navigation in the Red Sea and the Egyptian economy.

He shed light on the substantial decline in Suez Canal revenues, which has positioned Egypt as one of the most affected countries by the current challenges.

Abdelatty also emphasised the necessity to address the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza, assassination policies, and violations of regional sovereignty as the root causes of the unprecedented escalation.

According to a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry, Abdelatty affirmed Egypt's support and ongoing cooperation with ASPIDES operation amid the increasing challenges to navigation in the Red Sea.

For his part, Gryparis expressed his appreciation for Egypt's support of the operation, emphasising the importance of communicating with the countries affected by the Red Sea tensions, especially Egypt.

He underscored the defensive nature of the operation against threats, shedding light on its successes in repelling several Houthi attacks.

Moreover, Gryparis reiterated the operation's commitment to creating a safe environment for ship passage in the Red Sea, appreciating Egypt's communications and de-escalating efforts to reduce the current regional tensions

During the meeting, both sides agreed on the importance of continued consultation and coordination to calm the regional situation and ensure the safety of navigation in the Red Sea.

Tensions in the Red Sea have escalated following the Houthis' recurring attacks on ships linked to Israel, the US or the UK near the strategic Bab Al-Mandab Strait.

The Yemeni group, which controls much of Yemen but is not recognised internationally, says the attacks are meant to pressure Israel to end its deadly war on the Gaza Strip.

These attacks have led several shipping companies to divert their ships from the Suez Canal, which carried 12 percent of global trade, to the much-longer Cape of Good Hope route.

The Suez Canal – which connects the Mediterranean and the Red Sea – is the shortest maritime route between Asia and Europe and the fastest crossing from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean.