Egypt and China declared on Wednesday that the governance and security of the Red Sea are the primary responsibility of its bordering nations, as the two countries emphasised the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states in the Horn of Africa.

In a joint statement issued during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Xi stressed that stabilising the Horn of Africa requires strict adherence to the regional safety and territorial unity of its nations.

The leaders affirmed that full respect must be given to the will of Red Sea littoral states, calling for enhanced regional cooperation to face common challenges and guarantee freedom of navigation and international trade.

The joint declaration was issued as part of Xi’s first visit to Egypt in a decade, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Xi and Sisi held extended bilateral talks at Al-Ittihadiya Palace, signing several agreements and memoranda of understanding to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Sino-Egyptian statement aligns with Cairo’s recent diplomatic efforts to assert regional control over the strategic waterway and its surrounding geography, which Egypt considers a direct extension of its own national security.

Egypt and Eritrea have completely rejected any attempts by non-littoral nations to impose security arrangements or enforce maritime access in the Red Sea. They firmly maintained that the administration and security of the Red Sea remain the exclusive responsibility of bordering states.

To coordinate responses to these regional crises, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty hosted his Eritrean counterpart, Osman Saleh, on July 19. The ministers reviewed ongoing developments in Sudan and Somalia, rejecting any unilateral measures that could compromise state sovereignty or undermine stability across the Horn of Africa.

Egypt has also taken a firm stance on Somalia’s territorial integrity. In an Aug. 18 phone call with Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali, Abdelatty stated that Cairo firmly rejects any unilateral measures that would compromise Somalia’s borders or diminish its sovereignty.

During the call, Abdelatty underscored the necessity of providing sustainable funding for the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia, noting Egypt’s active participation in the force. He emphasised the critical need to retain, support, and finance both the African Union mission and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia to preserve the country’s security, stability, and unity.