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Egypt Supports EU ASPIDES to Protect Security of Red Sea Navigation

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Vasileios Gryparis, operation commander of the European Union’s ASPIDES naval mission. (Egypt’s Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Vasileios Gryparis, operation commander of the European Union’s ASPIDES naval mission. (Egypt’s Foreign Ministry)
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Egypt Supports EU ASPIDES to Protect Security of Red Sea Navigation

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Vasileios Gryparis, operation commander of the European Union’s ASPIDES naval mission. (Egypt’s Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Vasileios Gryparis, operation commander of the European Union’s ASPIDES naval mission. (Egypt’s Foreign Ministry)

Egypt expressed on Wednesday its support for the European Union’s ASPIDES naval mission, established in February to protect navigation in the Red Sea.

Tensions escalated in the Red Sea region at the end of November, with Yemen’s Houthi militias targeting ships passing through the shipping lane in response to the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip.

These attacks prompted international shipping companies to change their route and avoid passing through the Red Sea canal, which had repercussions on the economy and global trade.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized the need to strengthen efforts to secure navigation in the Red Sea amid escalating regional tensions, according to a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

His remarks came during a meeting in Cairo with Vasileios Gryparis, operation commander of the European Union’s ASPIDES naval mission.

The minister pointed to the necessity of ensuring a safe environment for commercial vessels, adding that threats to navigation in the Red Sea have significantly impacted the Egyptian economy by reducing Suez Canal revenues.

“Egypt is one of the most impacted countries in the world because of this situation,” he underlined.

The Suez Canal is one of the main sources of hard currency in Egypt. Its revenues last year amounted to $10.3 billion, according to official data.

But these revenues have witnessed a decline in recent months, due to regional perturbations. Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly said in a press conference last week that his country was losing between $500 and $550 million a month due to the Red Sea tensions.”

Gryparis expressed commitment to engaging with the affected countries, particularly Egypt and reviewing successful operations against Houthi attacks.

Stressing the need for coordinated efforts to secure navigation in the Red Sea, the EU official pointed to “the defensive nature of the European naval operation in the face of threats,” reviewing the successes it achieved in deterring many Houthi attacks.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, strategic expert and head of the Arab Foundation for Development and Strategic Studies, Brigadier General Samir Ragheb, said: “Egypt is concerned with protecting the security of navigation in the Red Sea, and believes that the only way to do so is to stop the escalation and war on the Gaza Strip.”

“Cairo’s support for the European mission falls within this context,” he added.

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Syria Joins a Donor Conference for the First Time in a Crucial Phase for Its New Leaders

EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
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Syria Joins a Donor Conference for the First Time in a Crucial Phase for Its New Leaders

EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)

International donors gathered on Monday in a show of support for Syria, hoping to encourage the new leaders of the conflict-ravaged country toward a peaceful political transition following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani attended the conference — the ninth of its kind — in a first for a top official from Damascus.

But the United States, one of Syria’s top donors, wasn’t expected to offer assistance as the Trump administration is reviewing all foreign aid. It contributed almost $1.2 billion to Syria and the region last year.

Ministers and representatives from Western partners, Syria’s regional neighbors, other Arab countries and UN agencies also attended the one-day meeting in Brussels, organized in haste by the European Union amid change sweeping the country.

Opening the meeting, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU was increasing its pledge to Syrians in the country and the region to almost 2.5 billion euros ($2.7 billion) for 2025 and 2026.

“We call on all of you who are here today to do the same, if possible, because at this critical time, the people of Syria need us more than ever,” von der Leyen said.

Syria's new leaders are trying to consolidate control over territory that was divided into de facto mini-states during nearly 14 years of civil war, and to rebuild the economy and infrastructure. The United Nations has estimated that it would cost at least $250 billion to rebuild Syria, while experts say that could reach at least $400 billion.

At the same time, Western governments are cutting back on aid spending, in part to use in defense budgets.

“We will give more, but we cannot fill the gap left by the US,” EU Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib told reporters. "We will need to share the burden.”

Security concerns are also making donors hesitate. Earlier this month, an ambush on a Syrian security patrol by gunmen loyal to Assad triggered clashes. Some factions allied with the new government launched sectarian revenge attacks — primarily targeting Assad’s Alawite minority sect — that monitoring groups say killed hundreds of civilians over several days.

The EU said that it will only support “a peaceful and inclusive transition, away from malign foreign interference, which guarantees the rights of all Syrians without distinction of any kind.”

The 27-nation bloc has begun to ease energy, transport and financial sector sanctions to encourage the new authorities, but many other Western sanctions remain in place. The EU can reintroduce sanctions if things don’t go to the liking of Western backers.

Syria's foreign minister said that lifting the measures is no longer just a government demand but "a humanitarian and moral necessity.”

"We cannot talk about economic recovery and humanitarian development in Syria while restrictions continue to prevent even the arrival of medical equipment and spare parts to repair damaged hospitals and essential service facilities,” he said.

Syria's economy, infrastructure and institutions are in tatters. As a failed state, it could become another haven for extremists.

Amy Pope, director-general of the International Organization for Migration, urged donors to seize this opportunity to encourage the interim government to move in the right direction.

“It’s critical that countries take advantage of the moment we’re in,” Pope told The Associated Press.

“Of course, we all want to see an inclusive Syria,” she said. “We want to make sure there’s accountability for human rights violations. But the answer is to engage more, not to engage less.”

Syrians have only a few hours of electricity each day. Water supplies are unreliable and often unsafe. Unemployment runs to 80% or 90%. Destruction is widespread.

Many government employees and experts needed to rebuild fled after the 2011 peaceful anti-regime protests were violently quelled by Assad, leading to the conflict.

The UN refugee agency said that last year around 7 million people were displaced in Syria. More than 4.7 million refugees are registered in neighboring countries, most in Türkiye, Lebanon and Jordan.

The German government said that it would pledge around 300 million euros ($326 million) to help deal with the fallout from Syria’s civil war. More than half will be used to help people in Syria, with other funding supporting Syrians and communities elsewhere.

Monday's conference was also focused on meeting Syria’s economic needs. Infrastructure, health and education must be scaled up. Jobs and cash for work programs are needed so that Syrians can start to make a living.