Yemen Monitor | Newsroom:
The Wall Street Journal has reported that U.S. President Donald Trump reached out to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, expressing his intention to ensure the free passage of US ships through the Suez Canal.
According to sources cited by the newspaper, Trump requested Egypt’s support in military operations against the Houthis in Yemen. This support included potential military cooperation, intelligence sharing, or financial backing. However, President Sisi reportedly rejected these requests, stressing that the best way to stop the Houthis is through a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
James Hewitt, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, told the Journal that the freedom of navigation for US vessels in the Red Sea “would benefit partners around the world, including Egypt.”
Hewitt added that the burdens of the military operation against the Houthis should be shared among allies, noting that securing US passage through the Suez Canal is “one way to distribute these burdens.”
The newspaper also revealed that the US had warned Egyptian officials during their visit to Washington last spring that U.S. financial aid to Egypt could be reduced.
It is worth noting that on April 27, Trump publicly called for guaranteed free passage for US ships through both the Panama and Suez Canals.
