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Gulf

Egypt and Oman Discuss Red Sea Security, Bilateral Cooperation

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meets with Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said. (Egypt’s Foreign Affairs Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meets with Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said. (Egypt’s Foreign Affairs Ministry)
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Egypt and Oman Discuss Red Sea Security, Bilateral Cooperation

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meets with Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said. (Egypt’s Foreign Affairs Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meets with Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said. (Egypt’s Foreign Affairs Ministry)

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed escalating security tensions in the Red Sea during a visit to Oman on Monday, stressing the importance of maritime safety, freedom of international trade, and the direct link to the security of Red Sea littoral states.

Abdelatty highlighted the economic impact of the tensions on Egypt, particularly the decline in Suez Canal revenues, which fell from $9.4 billion in 2022–2023 to $7.2 billion in 2023–2024 due to the Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.

The attacks, carried out in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, have forced global shipping companies to reroute vessels through the Cape of Good Hope.

During his meeting with Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Abdelatty expressed Egypt’s appreciation for the sultanate’s leadership and its stabilizing regional role.

According to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, he emphasized the need for Arab cooperation to address the region’s unprecedented instability, underscoring Egypt’s commitment to working closely with Oman to promote security and stability.

Abdelatty also met with his Omani counterpart Badr Al-Busaidi to discuss bilateral ties and regional issues. They reviewed existing cooperation frameworks and explored ways to boost relations, especially in trade, investments, and logistics.

The Egyptian official highlighted his country’s economic reform program and its efforts to attract foreign investment by improving the business climate and offering incentives.

The ministers discussed bolstering cooperation between the Suez Canal Economic Zone and Oman’s Special Economic Zone at Duqm, as well as strengthening maritime links between key ports, such as Duqm, Salalah, Alexandria, and Ain Sokhna. Such initiatives aim to boost trade and deepen collaboration in logistics and maritime transport, leveraging both nations’ strategic geographic locations.

Regional topics, including developments in Syria, Gaza, Yemen, Libya, Lebanon, and the Horn of Africa, were also addressed. The ministers expressed concern over the impact of Red Sea tensions on littoral states and shared a commitment to finding comprehensive political solutions for these crises.

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Gulf

Saudi Support for Inclusive Southern Dialogue Without Monopoly or Exclusion

Caption: Saudi Arabia seeks comprehensive solutions for southern Yemenis through the forthcoming dialogue (Reuters).
Caption: Saudi Arabia seeks comprehensive solutions for southern Yemenis through the forthcoming dialogue (Reuters).
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Saudi Support for Inclusive Southern Dialogue Without Monopoly or Exclusion

Caption: Saudi Arabia seeks comprehensive solutions for southern Yemenis through the forthcoming dialogue (Reuters).
Caption: Saudi Arabia seeks comprehensive solutions for southern Yemenis through the forthcoming dialogue (Reuters).

Riyadh has hosted the Southern Consultative Meeting as a prelude to a comprehensive Southern Dialogue Conference, signaling the return of southern Yemen as a core issue in the country’s peace process. The meeting brought together a broad range of southern leaders and groups, including advocates of restoring the state that existed in southern and eastern Yemen before the 1990 unification with the north.

The consultative talks were attended by Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Vice President Abdul Rahman Al-Mahrami, who read the final communiqué.

Saudi sponsorship reflects a shift in the Kingdom’s role from primarily military support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government to that of a key political sponsor of a comprehensive settlement.

The communiqué underscored this approach, stressing that Saudi Arabia “does not adopt a hostile position toward any southern option,” provided it is the outcome of an inclusive, non-exclusive intra-dialogue.

Beyond politics, Saudi backing extended to urgent economic measures, including the allocation of SAR 1.9 billion to support the economy and ensure payment of salaries for civil servants and military personnel. Observers say these steps give Saudi mediation tangible credibility and directly link economic stability with the success of the political process.

Criticism of External Interference

The final statement, and reactions surrounding it, carried pointed — if indirect — criticism of the United Arab Emirates.

Analysts accuse Abu Dhabi of deepening southern divisions by backing specific factions, particularly those previously led by Aidarous al-Zubaidi, former head of the dissolved Southern Transitional Council, who reportedly moved to Abu Dhabi after refusing to join the Riyadh-sponsored dialogue.

This contrast casts Riyadh as an alternative to what critics describe as “chaotic” Emirati interference, emphasizing inclusive dialogue among southerners and support for state institutions as part of a pathway toward broader Yemeni stability.

Southern visions remain diverse. Some leaders seek secession and restoration of the pre-1990 state, others favor a federal Yemen with self-governing regions, while additional voices propose alternative arrangements they see as fairer and less centralized. These differing perspectives place Saudi Arabia in the role of mediator seeking to unify southerners, while Abu Dhabi is increasingly portrayed by critics as a force fueling fragmentation.

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi has previously called on the UAE to withdraw militarily from Yemen and halt interference in internal affairs, accusing it of backing unilateral moves to impose control by force over Hadramout and Al-Mahra.

Internal Reckoning and a Historic Chance

The consultative meeting also highlighted internal challenges that have weakened the southern cause. Participants rejected any monopoly over representation or attempts to reduce the issue to a single leader or group. The statement distinguished between the legitimacy of the southern cause as a political and rights-based demand and the harmful practices of some leaders accused of exploiting it for regional agendas or corruption.

This self-criticism, particularly from figures once associated with the Transitional Council, suggests a desire to correct course and rebuild credibility with the southern public and the international community. Calls for popular support “with awareness and responsibility” aim to restore grassroots legitimacy and prevent the manipulation of protests for narrow interests.

The communiqué described the upcoming comprehensive Southern Dialogue Conference as a “rare historic opportunity,” enabled by Saudi sponsorship and a growing southern consensus on dialogue as the only safe path forward.

Regionally and internationally, resolving the southern issue is increasingly seen as a key gateway to a comprehensive peace in Yemen. However, success will depend on overcoming deep internal divisions and shielding the process from destabilizing interference.

Gulf

GCC Chief Welcomes Syrian Government's Agreement with SDF

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
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GCC Chief Welcomes Syrian Government's Agreement with SDF

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi welcomed the new agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

Albudaiwi welcomed the announcement by Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa regarding a new agreement with the SDF and the provisions it includes that contribute to strengthening and maintaining security and stability in Syria.

He emphasized that the final communiqué issued by the 46th session of the Supreme Council of the leaders of the GCC states stresses the importance of respecting the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Syria, noting that Syria’s security and stability are a fundamental pillar of regional security and stability.

Gulf

Saudi FM Holds Phone Calls with US Envoy for Syria, Omani Counterpart, US Secretary of State

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.
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Saudi FM Holds Phone Calls with US Envoy for Syria, Omani Counterpart, US Secretary of State

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held a phone call on Monday with US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

During the call, they discussed the latest developments in Syria. 

The Saudi minister also spoke by telephone with his Omani counterpart, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi. They exchanged views on the latest regional developments and the efforts being made in this regard. 

Earlier on Monday, the Saudi minister held a phone call with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They discussed the latest regional developments.