Egypt and Eritrea Sign Landmark Red Sea Maritime Cooperation Agreement in Asmara
Egypt and Eritrea have signed a landmark maritime transport cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening Red Sea connectivity, boosting regional trade, and deepening strategic ties between the two neighboring nations during high-level talks held in Asmara on Saturday.
The agreement was signed during the visit of Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty to Eritrea, reflecting growing cooperation between Cairo and Asmara on maritime security, logistics, and economic integration across the Red Sea corridor.
Egyptian Transport Minister Kamel Al-Wazir signed the maritime transport deal with Eritrean officials to expand logistical connectivity and strengthen trade, investment, and economic cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement comes at a time when global attention remains focused on Red Sea shipping security, maritime trade routes, and regional port development, making the Egypt-Eritrea partnership increasingly important for international shipping and supply chain stability.
Minister Al-Wazir pointed to the already operational cargo shipping line linking Egyptian and Eritrean ports through the Red Sea as evidence of both governments’ commitment to expanding bilateral maritime cooperation. He also reaffirmed Egypt’s readiness to share expertise in railway systems, ports management, and maritime transport infrastructure to support Eritrea’s development ambitions.
The visit, carried out under the directives of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, carried significant political and strategic importance. During the meetings, Foreign Minister Abdelatty held talks with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki covering regional security, Horn of Africa stability, trade expansion, and private sector investment opportunities.
Abdelatty emphasized that the governance and security of the Red Sea should remain solely in the hands of Red Sea littoral states, firmly rejecting any external attempts to impose security arrangements or political understandings related to the strategic maritime corridor.
Egypt also reiterated its full support for Eritrea’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national unity — a position President El-Sisi had previously reaffirmed during President Afwerki’s visit to Cairo in October 2025.
The discussions further addressed regional developments in Sudan and Somalia, with Egypt stressing that stability in the Horn of Africa remains directly tied to Egyptian national security. Abdelatty highlighted the importance of preserving state institutions and maintaining the territorial integrity of countries across the region.
President Afwerki praised Egypt’s growing regional role and welcomed stronger political, economic, and security coordination between the two countries. He described the newly signed agreements as another step in a long-standing partnership rather than the beginning of a new relationship.
According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Abdelatty also held separate talks with Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh, where both sides discussed increasing trade exchange, encouraging joint investments, and expanding the role of Egypt’s private sector in the Eritrean market.
The Egypt-Eritrea maritime cooperation deal is expected to strengthen Red Sea shipping connectivity and reinforce regional collaboration at a time when maritime security, port infrastructure investment, and global energy shipping routes remain at the center of international attention.
