Egypt rejects Houthi proposal for direct maritime talks in Red Sea

Egypt has turned down a proposal from Yemen’s Iranian‑backed Houthi movement to hold direct maritime talks about navigation rules for the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea, a move that could affect the flow of billions of barrels of oil that now bypass the Strait of Hormuz. The rejection comes as the Houthis have seized key islands and a port on the Red Sea, and Saudi Arabia’s East‑West pipeline has been hit by a drone strike.

The proposal was first relayed to the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) in London by a Houthi official, who asked Egyptian authorities to discuss new arrangements to protect vessels transiting the Bab el‑Mandeb. CBS News reported that the request was forwarded to Egypt’s maritime chamber, but a senior source told Al‑Araby Al‑Jadeed that the Suez Canal Authority Chairman rejected it outright, arguing that responding could amount to implicit recognition of a group that is not the internationally recognised government of Yemen.

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Egypt’s stance reflects a broader regional reluctance to engage directly with the Houthis, who are widely viewed as an Iranian proxy. The group has already turned the Red Sea into a contested zone, capturing the port of Mokha and the Hanish islands, 100 miles north of the strait’s entrance, as reported by Yahoo News. The seizure of these strategic points has heightened fears that shipping lanes could be further disrupted as the Houthis expand their maritime blockade of Saudi ports.

At the same time, Saudi Arabia’s East‑West pipeline, a 745‑mile artery that carries up to 7 million barrels of oil a day from the kingdom’s eastern fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, was struck by a drone attack on 10 September. The strike forced the pipeline’s temporary shutdown, a development that the Saudi state oil company Aramco has not yet commented on. CBS News noted that repair crews will likely need three to five weeks to restore full service, with a partial flow possible during the interim.

Oman scheduled a meeting with Iranian and other regional delegations to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, but the meeting was postponed at the request of some countries. The delay was announced by the Oman News Agency, and the Omani foreign minister said the postponement was in the interests of consensus. CBS News covered the postponement, noting that the decision reflects ongoing regional uncertainty.

The strategic significance of the Bab el‑Mandeb is underscored by the fact that it has become the primary alternative route for Saudi oil exports following the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz. The Houthi expansion into the Red Sea could therefore create a new chokepoint that would threaten global oil supplies.

In the coming weeks, several developments will shape the regional security environment:

• Egypt’s decision to keep the Houthi proposal on hold may be revisited if further diplomatic pressure emerges.
• Saudi Arabia’s pipeline repairs will determine whether the kingdom can resume its Red Sea exports.
• Oman’s rescheduled meeting on the Strait of Hormuz will likely bring together Iran, Oman, and other Gulf states to negotiate transit rules.
• Oil prices will continue to monitor the balance of supply and demand as the conflict evolves.

For the maritime community, the situation remains fluid. Shipping companies are closely watching the status of the East‑West pipeline and the operational status of the Hanish islands, while the U.S. Navy maintains its escort operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

In sum, Egypt’s rejection of the Houthi maritime proposal underscores the growing complexity of securing the Bab el‑Mandeb and the Red Sea amid a broader regional conflict that threatens to reshape global energy flows. The coming days will test whether diplomatic channels can bridge the divide between Saudi‑backed Yemen and Houthi‑controlled territories, and whether the Gulf states can forge a consensus on the future of the Strait of Hormuz.