Cairo: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates ambassador Abou baker Hefny opened on Monday a training program to support maritime security in the Red Sea region.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the program is organized by the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) with support from the Japanese government. It operates under the theme “Combating Transboundary Threats: Towards Enhancing Maritime Security in the Red Sea Region” and targets civilian and security cadres from countries bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, including Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Sudan, Somalia, Jordan, and Egypt.

In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony, the deputy foreign minister highlighted the impact of Israeli aggression on Gaza on the stability of the Red Sea region and the increasing tension in the area. Hefny emphasized that preserving the security of the Red Sea and ensuring freedom of navigation is a shared res
ponsibility, requiring significant international and regional collaboration.

Hefny stressed Egypt’s stance on integrating Arab and African countries bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden into regional initiatives. He underscored the importance of activating the Council of Arab and African States Bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to enhance cooperation and coordination among member states. The security of the Red Sea is closely tied to regional crises, he noted, underlining the need for a just solution to the Yemeni crisis, consolidating a ceasefire in Gaza, and resolving the Sudanese crisis.

Seif Kandil, Director General of the CCCPA, noted that the program aims to bolster regional and international cooperation by coordinating efforts among coastal states, addressing legal frameworks for a secure marine environment, and confronting cybercrime challenges. He emphasized the Center’s longstanding commitment since 2017 to addressing Red Sea security issues and fostering regional cooperation.

The
Japanese chargé d’affaires expressed pride in Japan’s partnership with the CCCPA since 2008, emphasizing the importance of Red Sea security and freedom of navigation. He remarked that the region is integral to Japan’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” vision and praised the CCCPA’s crucial role in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) process. The TICAD and the Aswan Forum share common goals, as the CCCPA serves as the Executive Secretariat of the Aswan Forum.