Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Saudi Crown Prince Seeks Egypt Backing Amid Red Sea Attacks
Houthi attacks have made ships less willing to travel through the Red Sea.
Fewer ships using the Suez Canal have hurt Egypt’s earnings.
Saudi Arabia also used Red Sea routes to move oil during the Iran war.
Some of that oil traveled through the Suez Canal.
Other shipments used an Egyptian pipeline connecting the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.
The East-West Pipeline has now been shut down.
This could stop or sharply reduce Saudi oil shipments through these routes for several weeks.
Saudi Arabia’s crown prince is seeking Egypt’s backing as the disruption affects both countries.
Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping during the Gaza war reduced traffic through the Suez Canal.
The decline in canal traffic has cut Egypt’s revenues.
Saudi Arabia redirected some oil exports through the Red Sea during the Iran war.
Much of that oil moved through the Suez Canal or an Egyptian pipeline linking the Red Sea with the Mediterranean.
The shutdown of the East-West Pipeline is expected to greatly reduce or end those shipments for weeks.
- Who
- Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Egypt, and the Houthis are central to the report.
- What
- Saudi Arabia is seeking Egypt’s backing as Houthi attacks disrupt Red Sea shipping and threaten oil routes.
- When
- The attacks occurred during the Gaza war, while Saudi oil rerouting and the pipeline shutdown are discussed in connection with the Iran war.
- Where
- The disruption affects the Red Sea, the Suez Canal, and an Egyptian pipeline running from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.
- Why
- Houthi attacks reduced shipping through the Suez Canal, hurting Egypt’s revenues, while the East-West Pipeline shutdown threatens Saudi oil shipments for weeks.
- Main actors
- Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the Houthis
- Affected waterway
- The Red Sea
- Impact on Suez Canal
- Houthi attacks reduced shipping traffic and Egypt’s revenues
- Saudi oil rerouting
- Saudi Arabia redirected oil exports through the Red Sea during the Iran war
- Alternative routes
- Oil moved through the Suez Canal or an Egyptian Red Sea-to-Mediterranean pipeline
- Pipeline disruption
- The East-West Pipeline shutdown is expected to reduce or end shipments for weeks