Egyptian Parliament Votes to Grant Military Green Light for Saudi Defense

Egypt's parliament voted on Monday to authorize the military to provide support in the defense of Saudi Arabia. Local media reported that lawmakers gave the green light for Cairo to engage directly if requested by its Gulf neighbor. This legislative move signals a shift in strategy for the nation, which has historically avoided direct combat in the Yemen conflict.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi requested the approval last week. He asked lawmakers to endorse a defense role for the country's largest regional military asset if Riyadh asked for help against Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis. The Houthis have intensified attacks on the Gulf kingdom, threatening the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical gateway to Egypt's Suez Canal.

Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stated that Egyptian membership in the Mecca mutual defense pact remains under serious consideration. The pact, signed in August, includes Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey. Egypt has previously condemned Iranian-backed attacks on Gulf states but has not joined the pact or engaged in direct combat prior to this week's vote.

The authorization allows for a limited scope of engagement. Sisi's letter to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, delivered on Wednesday, specified that support would be confined to defending Saudi territory and borders. The letter explicitly excluded plans to attack Yemen. Abdelatty noted after the visit that Cairo advocates exploring every opportunity for a diplomatic resolution.

Saudi Arabia serves as a major financial partner for Egypt. Under Sisi, Riyadh has provided billions of dollars in aid, central bank deposits, and energy supplies. The two leaders have coordinated closely on Red Sea security, with the Saudi crown prince visiting Cairo on September 15 to discuss navigation and safety in the region.

Egypt has a long history of involvement in Yemeni affairs. The country joined the Saudi-led coalition in March 2015, primarily as a naval partner securing Red Sea shipping lanes. It deployed approximately 800 ground troops but maintained a limited combat role. Before that, Egypt participated in a costly intervention in the 1960s and has not undertaken a large-scale foreign ground deployment since the 1991 Gulf War.

The conflict has escalated in recent weeks, becoming a volatile front in the wider US-Israeli war on Iran. Houthi forces have struck Riyadh's international airport and state oil giant Saudi Aramco. These attacks have disrupted flights and oil exports, while aid agencies warn of worsening humanitarian conditions in Yemen.