Saudi, Egypt unite as Red Sea risks lift oil

On Sept. 15, 2026, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman traveled to Cairo for talks with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. The meeting centered on regional security as both countries face mounting risks to critical maritime and energy routes.

Following their discussions, the two leaders affirmed a shared commitment to ensuring freedom and security of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Egypt’s presidency described Egypt’s stance as an “unwavering position in supporting Saudi Arabia,” underscoring political alignment on the evolving security challenge.

The Cairo meeting took place against the backdrop of intensified actions by Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen. Houthis have stepped up attacks on Saudi shipping and infrastructure and have seized the Red Sea port of Mokha, along with several strategic islands near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Control of Mokha and nearby islands places Houthi forces closer to a vital global trade route linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. These developments have raised concerns about the safety of commercial and energy shipments passing through one of the world’s key maritime chokepoints.

Human Rights Watch stated that Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden between July 20 and Aug. 24 could amount to war crimes. The assessment adds a legal and humanitarian dimension to what had largely been viewed as a strategic and economic risk.

Regional tensions have been amplified by an attack on Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline, which runs between its oil-producing regions and Red Sea export terminals. The strike put the pipeline out of service and was expected to shut it down for weeks, removing several million barrels per day from export routes.

A correction clarified that the strike on the East-West pipeline was carried out by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, not by Houthi forces. This distinction highlights the involvement of multiple Iran-aligned groups in targeting Saudi-linked energy infrastructure.

Market reports linked the pipeline outage and renewed Red Sea risks to a notable jump in oil prices on Sept. 15. Brent crude (UKOIL) traded around $105–$108 per barrel, while U.S. WTI rose above $102–$103, reflecting heightened concerns over supply disruptions and route security.

The combination of Houthi gains around Bab el-Mandeb, attacks on shipping, and the East-West pipeline shutdown has placed added pressure on Saudi Arabia’s export logistics. It has also increased the strategic importance of coordinated responses with regional partners such as Egypt.

By publicly emphasizing joint responsibility for protecting navigation in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, Saudi Arabia and Egypt signaled a unified stance at a time of overlapping military, economic, and legal challenges. These developments suggest that security at the chokepoint and the resilience of energy infrastructure will remain central issues for the region and global markets.