Egypt and Eritrea signed a strategic maritime transport cooperation agreement during high-level talks in Asmara aimed at strengthening Red Sea connectivity, boosting trade, and deepening political and economic coordination between the two countries.
The agreement was signed during a visit by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Transport Minister Kamel El-Wazir to Eritrea under directives from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The Egyptian delegation held talks with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki focusing on bilateral cooperation, Red Sea security, and developments across the Horn of Africa.
According to Egyptian and Eritrean official statements, the agreement aims to enhance logistical connectivity between the two Red Sea states, support trade and investment flows, and expand economic cooperation through maritime transport and shipping integration. Egyptian officials highlighted the existing cargo shipping route linking Egyptian and Eritrean ports as evidence of growing bilateral integration.
During the discussions, Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s position that the governance and security of the Red Sea should remain the exclusive responsibility of littoral states, rejecting external involvement in regional maritime security arrangements. The talks also addressed developments in Sudan and Somalia, with Cairo emphasizing that stability in the Horn of Africa is directly linked to Egyptian national security.
Egypt also reaffirmed support for Eritrea’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, building on understandings reached during President Afwerki’s visit to Cairo in October 2025. For his part, Afwerki praised Egypt’s growing regional role and expressed Eritrea’s commitment to expanding coordination with Cairo across political, economic, and security sectors.
The visit additionally included Egyptian business representatives and discussions on expanding private-sector investment, transport infrastructure, energy cooperation, and trade exchange between the two countries. The Red Sea corridor remains one of the world’s most strategically vital maritime routes, handling a significant share of global trade and energy shipments linking Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
As The Middle East Observer notes, the agreement reflects a broader strategic convergence between Cairo and Asmara as Red Sea security, maritime trade routes, and Horn of Africa stability increasingly emerge as central geopolitical priorities amid intensifying international competition over the strategically vital corridor. The deal also signals growing efforts by regional littoral states to consolidate greater influence over the future security and economic architecture of the Red Sea.
