STORY: Egyptian FM underlines importance of ensuring navigation safety in Red Sea
SHOOTING TIME: Aug. 7, 2024/File
DATELINE: Aug. 8, 2024
LENGTH: 00:00:55
LOCATION: Cairo
CATEGORY: POLITICS/MILITARY

SHOTLIST:
1. photos of Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meeting with Vasileios Gryparis, operation commander of the European Union's Aspides naval mission (source: MFA)
2. various of the headquarters of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cairo

STORYLINE:

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

Abdelatty made the remarks during a meeting in Cairo with Vasileios Gryparis, operation commander of the European Union's Aspides naval mission, established in February to address the Red Sea crisis.

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

He attributed the regional escalation to the ongoing Israeli conflict in Gaza and policies of assassination.

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

The EU official stressed the need for coordinated efforts to secure navigation in the Red Sea.

Since the conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted in October last year, the Houthis in Yemen have targeted ships linked to Israel in the Red Sea in a show of solidarity with the Palestinians.

In response, the United States and Britain have conducted multiple airstrikes on Houthi military positions in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and other areas under Houthi control since January 12.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Cairo.
(XHTV)