President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi extended his Gulf tour with visits to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, strengthening Egypt’s support for the Gulf states as regional tensions continue to rise amid the ongoing war with Iran.
Visits to Manama and Riyadh They represent the third and fourth stops on a whirlwind diplomatic tour that began earlier this week with visits to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, signaling an intensified Egyptian effort to coordinate a unified Arab response to the crisis.
Support Gulf security
During his meetings, Sisi affirmed Egypt’s firm support for the security and stability of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, stressing that Gulf security is an “extension” of Egypt’s national security.
In Bahrain, Sisi met with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, where he condemned the recent attacks targeting the kingdom and reaffirmed Egypt’s readiness to provide “all forms of support” to protect regional stability.
The two leaders discussed strengthening joint Arab coordination to contain tensions, with Bahrain praising Egypt’s role as a “pillar of regional security.”
Sisi then traveled to Saudi Arabia, where he held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that focused on the development of the regional situation and ways to prevent further escalation.
The Egyptian President affirmed Cairo’s support for the measures taken by the Kingdom to protect its security and national interests, also explaining Egypt’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to calm tensions, including direct messages to Iran urging an immediate cessation of attacks and a return to negotiations.
The two sides agreed to maintain close coordination in the coming period, reflecting what officials described as the depth of long-term relations between Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
A rapid Gulf diplomatic push
The latest visits build on Sisi’s previous visits to the UAE and Qatar, where he similarly reaffirmed Egypt’s support for the Gulf states and stressed the need to prevent the conflict from widening.
During the four visits, Egypt’s message remained consistent: rejecting attacks on Gulf lands, preserving state sovereignty, and prioritizing political solutions over military escalation. The presidency also stressed that Egypt is actively engaging regional actors, including Iran, in an attempt to contain the crisis.
The tour comes amid a broader Egyptian diplomatic push, including ministerial visits and calls with regional leaders, aimed at strengthening collective Arab security and preventing further destabilization.
