[09/09/2026 04:12]

CAIRO-SABA

Foreign Minister Dr. Afrah al-Zouba affirmed that Red Sea security is a shared strategic interest for Yemen and Egypt, stressing that Bab al-Mandab and the Suez Canal form interconnected links in a vital maritime corridor essential to regional and international trade.

Speaking at a high-level panel in Cairo on Yemeni-Egyptian strategic relations, al-Zouba stressed the depth of bilateral ties and called for strengthening cooperation, activating joint committees and establishing the Yemeni-Egyptian Business Council to promote trade and investment.

She praised Egypt’s firm support for Yemen’s unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity and legitimate state institutions, stressing the need for greater coordination to address threats to Red Sea security and their economic repercussions.

Al-Zouba said the Houthis had exploited periods of de-escalation to strengthen their military capabilities and expand attacks on government-held areas and maritime routes. She stressed that Yemen’s crisis has become a regional and international security issue.

She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a political solution, stressing that any viable settlement must restore state institutions, establish one state and unified national institutions, and place all weapons under constitutional and legal authority.

The foreign minister also reaffirmed Yemen’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people’s rights and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

She concluded by stressing that the door remains open for those willing to lay down their arms and join state institutions within a state based on the rule of law, justice and equal citizenship.

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