Riyadh(ANN)-King Salman and Eritrean President Afeworki discussed the importance and role of the Council of Arab and African States Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Eritrean President Isaias Afeworki held talks on Monday in the capital Riyadh, according Arab News.

During the talks, they reviewed the bilateral relation between the two countries and developments in the Horn of Africa and the region.

King Salman and President Isaias also discussed the importance and role of the Council of Arab and African States bordering the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and ways of developing and enhancing opportunities for cooperation in various fields, Arab news pointed out.

It is to be recalled that the new council was formed aimed at securing the waterways of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden last month in Saudi Arabia.

The council, which includes Egypt, Jordan, Eritrea, Yemen, Sudan, Djibouti, and Somalia, will increase cooperation between the countries and aims to tackle smuggling and other threats in the sea that are key international shipping routes.

READ: East Africa: The new Red Sea Coalition was started by Saudi Arabia, but left Somaliland with a handful of players

The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden are two of the world’s busiest shipping routes connecting Europe to Asia and the Middle East.

READ: Riyadh: Announces establishment of Red Sea, Gulf of Aden council

READ: Somaliland welcomes the establishment of the Task Force on the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden by the IGAD