Putin and Mohammed bin Salman move to secure Gulf oil arteries as Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb take center stage
Putin and Mohammed bin Salman put maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb at the center of diplomatic efforts as war disrupts vital energy export routes.
Euro Times – Riyadh
Russia has moved directly into the diplomatic effort surrounding the maritime crisis in the Gulf and Red Sea after President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the need to ensure safe and unimpeded passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb.
According to Reuters, citing the Kremlin, the two leaders held a detailed exchange on the Middle East and emphasized that a political and diplomatic settlement remains the only viable path forward.
Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb in the same conversation
The Kremlin said Putin and Mohammed bin Salman stressed the importance of ensuring safe and unhindered navigation through the region’s international waterways, specifically naming both Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz.
The issue is particularly important for Saudi Arabia. Hormuz remains a major route for Gulf energy exports, while Bab el-Mandeb is the gateway from the Red Sea toward the Suez Canal and European markets.
Yemen at the center of the talks
The two leaders also called for a swift cessation of hostilities in Yemen as the military and political situation deteriorates, while emphasizing a political and diplomatic solution.
The call comes as the Houthi advance and threats to Red Sea shipping increase risks along the alternative route Saudi Arabia uses to reduce its dependence on Hormuz.
Pressure on both oil routes
The disruption of the two straits places Gulf oil exports in an increasingly sensitive position. Problems in Hormuz push producers toward alternative routes through the Red Sea, while growing risks around Bab el-Mandeb put pressure on that route as well.
Saudi Arabia has restarted its East-West pipeline, linking production areas to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, in an effort to restore greater export capacity outside Hormuz.
The Putin–Mohammed bin Salman call did not announce a new international maritime protection mechanism or an operational agreement to reopen either waterway. It does, however, put the security of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb together at the center of diplomacy surrounding the war.
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