As regional tensions escalate, Saudi Arabia intensifies its diplomatic efforts to prevent further spillover and maintain the security of critical maritime routes.
To this end, the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, held expansive discussions with his counterparts from Egypt, Qatar, and Pakistan – three regional powers playing key roles to de-escalate the situation.
Diplomatic Push
The Big Picture: Prince Faisal bin Farhan held separate phone discussions on Saturday and Sunday with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Qatar, and Pakistan to address the latest regional developments.
Deep Dive: The foreign ministers’ discussions focused on exploring ways to support de-escalation efforts and promoting diplomatic solutions to safeguard the security and safety of waterways in the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea and to enhance regional stability and peace.
What to Watch: In recent months, Prince Faisal bin Farhan held several discussions, via phone or in person, with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. During these talks, they discussed efforts to de-escalate military tensions in light of the US-Israeli war with Iran.
Common Concerns
Driving the News: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, and Pakistan are key stakeholders in regional maritime stability. The four countries have a shared interest in maintaining uninterrupted trade flow for international oil, gas, container shipping, and commercial transit as they sit on vital chokepoints.
The Kingdom has coastlines along the Arabian Gulf in the east and the Red Sea in the west. Egypt has a Red Sea coastline which includes the Suez Canal – a vital maritime trade route. Qatar is a peninsula extending north in the Arabian Gulf. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s southern coastline overlooks the Arabian Sea.
Backstory: The recent regional conflict has led to mounting military tensions around critical maritime chokepoints. Iran has blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, sending shockwaves across the global markets. On the other side of the Arabian Peninsula, the Iranian-backed Houthi militia has escalated threats around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, raising fears of disrupting trade movement across the Red Sea gateway.
A Shared Commitment to Peace
State of Play: Each of the four countries has ramped up efforts, unilaterally and collectively, to ease tensions and restore freedom of navigation across the waterways. Qatar and Pakistan have been the key mediators in talks between the US and Iran to reach a ceasefire deal. Simultaneously, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have played a “supportive role,” encouraging both parties to focus on the diplomatic track to bridge the gaps.
Between the Lines: Saudi Arabia has strengthened its diplomatic and security cooperation with Pakistan and Egypt. Riyadh, Islamabad, and Cairo, alongside Ankara, form the Regional Four (R-4) group, a quadrilateral consultative framework focused on boosting joint coordination and unifying positions in the face of the rapidly evolving developments and dangerous military escalation in the Middle East.
Reality Check: Beyond short-term de-escalation, Saudi Arabia is leveraging institutional frameworks to permanently secure regional waters. Riyadh and Cairo are spearheading efforts to activate the Council of Arab and African Coastal States of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, established in 2020.
Key Objectives:
- Maritime Security:Coordinate joint efforts to protect shipping lanes, combat piracy, and manage cross-border threats.
- Economic Cooperation:Foster regional trade, resource sharing, and economic development among member states.
- Geopolitical Stability:Provide a localized forum for coastal states to manage regional security independently and minimize interference from external powers.
Furthermore, Saudi Arabia has responded to the recent escalations by actively stepping in to safeguard global energy and supply chains. The kingdom’s maritime and logistics ecosystem has adopted a package of proactive measures to ensure operational continuity through its Red Sea ports, such as:
- Activating alternative routes.
- Boosting transit services.
- Maintaining uninterrupted shipping line bookings.
Bilateral Coordination
The Horizon: The Kingdom has bolstered cooperation with Qatar, Egypt, and Pakistan. Riyadh and Doha are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), aligning their positions to champion peace and maritime safety.
Saudi Arabia has deepened its maritime coordination with Egypt to protect the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea corridor. This materialized in a cooperation protocol signed in September 2025 to support maritime security efforts in the region. Saudi and Egyptian military officials also discussed avenues for bolstering military cooperation between their respective naval forces, including ways to transfer and exchange expertise.
Moreover, the Kingdom boosted its defense ties with Pakistan in the same month by signing a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA), which enhances cooperation between Riyadh and Islamabad and strengthens joint deterrence against any potential aggression. It clearly states that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.”
