Amid reports that Saudi Arabia and Qatar are close to reaching a deal to end the nearly four-year-long Gulf dispute, signs of tension remain that could hamper a final agreement. With Kuwait working to mediate and build on US-brokered talks, maritime navigation issues have emerged as another sticking point.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia on Dec. 1 called for guaranteeing the freedom of navigation in the Gulf, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea. In a joint statement issued following a meeting of the Egyptian-Saudi political consultation committee in Riyadh, the two countries warned that any attempt to hinder navigation poses a threat to regional security and stability.
