Sisi of Egypt and Trump speak over the phone about regional mediation efforts

The Egyptian president said Tuesday that it and U.S. President Donald Trump had discussed mediation efforts to restore regional calm, which would benefit Red Sea navigation and stop economic losses for all sides.

Since Israel’s war with Hamas started in late 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis carried out over 100 strikes on vessels, claiming to be acting in solidarity with the Palestinians of Gaza.

The U.S. military launched an expensive missile intercepting campaign in response to the strikes, which have also hampered international trade.

In the midst of the White House’s largest military assaults against the Houthis since March 15, Trump claimed earlier Tuesday that he had spoken with Sisi on the administration’s accomplishments against the group.

In addition to warning Iran, the primary supporter of the Houthis, that it must immediately cease its assistance for the organization, Trump claimed the strikes were a reaction to the group’s attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

Trump approved the Yemen plans, but “we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return,” according to one of the U.S. officials interviewed in a March message that was mistakenly shared with a journalist at The Atlantic magazine about U.S. war plans against the Houthis.

The communications and Washington’s attacks on the Houthis were not mentioned in the Egyptian statement.

The Houthis’ attacks on the Red Sea region since November 2023 have affected Egypt, forcing ships to reroute trade around Africa and avoid the adjacent Suez Canal, which has increased shipping prices.

Sisi stated in December that Egypt lost over $7 billion in 2024 income because to the stoppage from the Suez Canal.