Egypt aspires for restoring Red Sea calm following Gaza ceasefire: El-Sisi

Ahram Online , Tuesday 21 Jan 2025

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi expressed Egypt’s aspiration to calm the situation in the Bab El-Mandeb Strait following the success of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which took effect Sunday morning.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi receives Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi receives Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez, in presence of Minister of Transport and Industry Kamel Al-Wazir. Photo: Egyptian Presidency

 

President El-Sisi made his remarks during a meeting on Tuesday in Cairo with Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez.

The meeting discussed the situation in the region and ways to restore security there, with El-Sisi underscoring the pivotal role the IMO can play in this regard, according to a presidential statement.

The president also highlighted the international body’s capability to unite global and regional stakeholders and key players in the maritime shipping sector.

The Red Sea tensions have escalated following the Houthis' recurring attacks on ships linked to Israel, the US, and the UK near the strategic Bab El-Mandeb Strait in response to Israel's war on Gaza.

The escalation has prompted many ship owners and operators to take routes other than the Egyptian Suez Canal, causing the canal’s revenues to drop by more than 60 percent in 2024.

On Sunday, the Houthis group – which controls much of Yemen but is not recognized internationally –said it would limit attacks in the Red Sea corridor to only Israeli-affiliated ships as the Gaza ceasefire took hold.

Furthermore, El-Sisi and Dominguez reviewed the ongoing cooperation between Egypt and the IOM, given Egypt's significant capabilities in shipping and maritime transport, including the Suez Canal and the extensive Mediterranean and Red Seas coastlines.

The two sides also discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the environment, climate change, and renewable and clean energy fields. Egypt plans to generate 42 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2035.

The statement said the meeting also highlighted Egypt’s efforts to become a global hub for green hydrogen production, thus contributing to the IMO's efforts to use alternative fuels in ships.

Additionally, their discussions focused on enhancing the IOM’s role in transferring relevant international expertise and technology and facilitating investment in the green hydrogen sector and necessary infrastructure at ports and key maritime corridors in developing countries.

The IMO secretary-general also praised Egypt's recent progress in maritime port services, which have helped facilitate global shipping and effectively and sustainably supported global supply chains.

Short link: