Saudi Arabia, Eritrea agree to boost Red Sea security

Saudi Arabia and Eritrea have reached a security and military agreement on fighting terrorism, illegal trade and piracy in the Red Sea, Eritrean diplomatic sources said yesterday.

According to the sources, the agreement, reached during a visit by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki to Saudi Arabia, also calls for preventing any foreign interference in Yemeni affairs.

Afwerki concluded a two-day visit to the oil-rich kingdom yesterday.

During his stay in the kingdom, the Eritrean leader held talks with Saudi officials on bilateral relations and the situation in Yemen, the sources told the Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, informed Eritrean sources said that delegations from both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates visited Eritrean ports and islands close to Yemen.

According to the sources, Saudi helicopters flew from Eritrea to Djibouti, a move that refers to coordination between the two countries.

Saudi Arabia has been leading a coalition of several Arab states in striking – from air so far – positions of the Shia Houthi group across Yemen for more than a month now.

Riyadh says the campaign comes at the request of embattled Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.