Egypt’s President Sisi Calls for Parliamentary Approval to Aid Saudi Arabia Militarily

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el‑Sisi announced on Saturday that he will ask parliament to meet in an emergency session to grant him the authority to provide defence assistance to Saudi Arabia if the kingdom requests it. Speaking at a graduation ceremony at the Egyptian Military Academy in the New Administrative Capital, el‑Sisi said Cairo stands ready to support Saudi Arabia in line with the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “I know that this matter requires the approval of the Egyptian parliament, and I hope that parliament will convene in an emergency session to give us this authorisation, if it is requested of us,” he told the graduates. He added that his remarks were not an invitation to attack anyone, but a statement of defensive intent.

The call comes amid a series of attacks on Saudi territory by Yemen’s Iran‑backed Houthi rebels, which have struck airports and oil facilities. Recent Houthi strikes have focused on infrastructure around Riyadh, moving closer to the city centre. An assault on King Khalid International Airport earlier this month killed 14 people and injured more than 300, while other airports in Dammam, Abha, Jazan and Najran have also been targeted. In response, Yemen’s internationally recognised government, backed by Saudi Arabia, launched a full‑scale military offensive this month to retake Houthi‑held areas.

Last month el‑Sisi met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Cairo and voiced support for Saudi calls for safe and unrestricted navigation of the Red Sea. A statement from the Egyptian presidency said that “the security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states is an integral part of Egypt’s national security.” The meeting occurred shortly after the Houthis seized parts of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, gaining significant control over the Bab al‑Mandeb strait, the southern gateway to the Suez Canal.

Saudi Arabia already maintains a defence pact with Pakistan and Turkey, known as the Mecca Alliance for Defence, signed in August. Earlier this month the three nations agreed to activate “deterrence measures” under the pact and to rapidly deploy forces to the Gulf kingdom to counter Houthi attacks. Analysts note that Saudi Arabia is seeking assistance to protect its territory and Red Sea shipping, and that Egypt, whose Suez Canal revenues depend on the same maritime traffic, is a natural partner. They add that Egypt is keen to prevent Iran and its allies from gaining influence over the region’s sea lanes, which would directly affect the canal.

Saudi officials have accused Iran of encouraging Houthi attacks, a charge Tehran denies. Iran has offered to help halt the conflict between the two sides.

During the same ceremony el‑Sisi confirmed that he will not seek to extend his presidency beyond 2030, in accordance with the Egyptian constitution. “The period leading up to 2030 will be the end of my term as president of the state, if I am still alive,” he said, adding that his decision is final and not open to discussion. The constitution, amended in 2019, lengthened presidential terms to six years and allowed el‑Sisi to run for another term in 2023, meaning his current mandate expires in 2030 and he is barred from seeking re‑election. He affirmed that the constitution will remain unchanged.