Egypt’s silence in the face of the Houthi assault on Red Sea shipping is not a mystery. It is a choice. And that choice reveals an uncomfortable truth about priorities in the Arab and Muslim world.
Since the Houthis began attacking international shipping lanes, Egypt has suffered one of the largest external economic shocks in its modern history. The disruption of traffic through the Suez Canal has cost Cairo an estimated $10–12 billion in lost revenue through the end of 2025, with no indication that 2026 will be any different. For a country already struggling with inflation, currency weakness, and mounting debt, this is catastrophic.
And yet, Egypt has done nothing.
No naval escalation. No direct military response. No meaningful diplomatic pressure on the Houthis or their Iranian patrons. Silence.