Economy
Saudi Arabia Plans Red Sea Pact as Gulf Interest in Africa Grows

Saudi Arabia wants to bring several states lining the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden into a bloc to improve trade and maritime navigation, according to state-run media.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz met at his Riyadh palace with foreign ministry officials from Egypt, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Jordan “to look into establishing an entity for Arab and African states on the Red Sea coast,” Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. They discussed ways to promote commerce and investment, as well as to protect shipping, Al Ekhbariya said.
Gulf states have been taking a more active role in the Horn of Africa, which got a special mention in the communique issued at the end of Sunday’s Gulf Cooperation Council summit.
Saudi Arabia, for example, brokered a peace deal in September between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Eritrea is located near the near Bab el-Mandeb, a shipping choke-point on the Red Sea used by oil tankers and other cargo vessels en route to Europe and the U.S. through the Suez Canal.
The United Arab Emirates has also been expanding its footprint in the region, though it wasn’t included in the grouping. Ethiopia and the breakaway republic of Somaliland, two countries with which the U.A.E. has good relations, also appear to have been excluded.
Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. are both part of a military coalition seeking to restore a friendly government in Yemen ousted by rebel fighters. Parties to the conflict are meeting in Sweden under U.S. pressure to agree to a cease-fire.
Continue Reading
-
OER Magazines2 months ago
OER, February 25
-
Alamaliktistaad Magazines2 months ago
Al-iktisaad, February 2025
-
Banking & Finance2 months ago
Sohar International Appoints Abdul Wahid Mohamed Al Murshidi as Chief Executive Officer
-
Energy2 months ago
Oman Gets Its First Hydrogen Refueling Station
-
Economy1 month ago
Is Gold a Good Investment in 2025? A Deep Dive into the Precious Metal’s Future
-
News2 months ago
Shell Oman Marketing Company Hosts the 1st Lubricants Technology Conference in Muscat
-
News2 months ago
Oman Explores Semiconductor & EV Investments with EONH Private Holdings & Jetour Global
-
News2 months ago
Opinion: Understanding AI’s Ministry of Truth
You must be logged in to post a comment Login