Egypt's Sisi, Trump discuss regional mediation efforts in phone call

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke about restoring calm in the region. They believe this will improve Red Sea navigation and reduce economic losses for all involved. The Egyptian presidency announced this on Tuesday.

Since late 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have attacked shipping over 100 times. They claim these actions are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

These attacks have disrupted global trade and increased U.S. military costs to intercept missiles. Trump mentioned that he discussed progress against the Houthis with Sisi earlier on Tuesday. The White House is conducting significant military operations against the group, which began under Trump's administration on March 15.

Trump stated that the strikes were a response to Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping. He also warned Iran, their main supporter, to stop backing the Houthis immediately.

In March, messages were mistakenly shared with a journalist from The Atlantic magazine. These messages revealed U.S. war plans against the Houthis. One official noted that Trump approved these plans but expected something in return from Egypt and Europe.

The Egyptian statement did not mention these messages or Washington's strikes against the Houthis. Egypt has felt the impact of Houthi attacks since November 2023. Ships have avoided the Suez Canal, rerouting trade around Africa, which has raised shipping costs.

Sisi stated in December that this disruption cost Egypt about $7 billion in lost revenue from the Suez Canal in 2024.