Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Bahrain on Sunday to discuss regional developments, including the escalation in Yemen and ongoing threats to maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb, the Saudi foreign ministry said.
– The meeting took place on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Russia in Manama.
– According to a statement posted by the Saudi foreign ministry on X, the two ministers reviewed bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Russia and discussed efforts to maintain regional security and stability.
– Their discussions focused particularly on the escalation in Yemen and continuing threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb, two strategically important waterways for global trade and energy supplies.
– The meeting comes amid heightened regional tensions following a series of attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia on Saudi Arabia and maritime navigation.
– The Saudi-led coalition has intensified military operations against Houthi infrastructure in Yemen in response to the attacks, while calling on the militia to immediately halt strikes targeting civilians and vital facilities.
– Bab al-Mandeb, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, is a key passage for vessels traveling between Europe and Asia through the Suez Canal. The Strait of Hormuz, meanwhile, connects the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and is a major route for global oil shipments.