胡塞武装在曼德海峡的威胁活动正对埃及经济造成严重打击。由于船只绕过苏伊士运河以规避风险，通过该运河的船舶数量从2023年的26000多艘大幅下降至2024年的13000多艘[1]。这一变化直接反映在国家财政上，苏伊士运河过境费收入从2023年的102.5亿美元锐减至2024年的约40亿美元[1]。埃及总统塞西指出，仅因苏伊士运河交通减少一项，埃及在2024年就损失了约70亿美元[1]。
面对这一严峻局面，埃及采取了平衡的外交策略。一方面，埃及公开支持沙特并谴责胡塞武装[1]；另一方面，埃及暗中与伊朗保持沟通[1]。埃及希望通过美伊调停来缓解地区紧张局势，进而稳定苏伊士运河的过境费收入。由于国家严重依赖国际货币基金组织贷款和海湾国家投资[1]，埃及在这场中东冲突中的处境尤为微妙。
Egypt faces mounting economic pressure as regional tensions between Iran and the United States disrupt one of the world's most critical shipping corridors. Houthi militant threats to shipping in the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb have prompted vessels to bypass the Suez Canal entirely, causing Egypt's transit fee revenues to plummet [1]. The canal generated approximately $102.5 billion in 2023, but this figure collapsed to roughly $40 billion in 2024—a decline President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi attributed specifically to reduced Suez traffic, citing losses of some $7 billion for that year alone [1].
The dramatic downturn is reflected in vessel traffic data, with the number of ships transiting the canal nearly halving from more than 26,000 in 2023 to approximately 13,000 in 2024 [1]. This revenue loss strikes at a vulnerable moment for Egypt's economy, which relies heavily on International Monetary Fund loans and investment from Gulf states [1]. To navigate this crisis, Egypt has adopted a delicate diplomatic strategy, publicly backing Saudi Arabia and condemning Houthi operations while maintaining quiet channels of communication with Iran—seeking mediation between Washington and Tehran to stabilize the region and restore canal traffic [1].