On Monday, the House of Representatives of Egypt, with a two-thirds majority, granted President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi permission to take necessary measures for military support to Saudi Arabia. This decision was made following el-Sisi's request to provide military support to defend Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks from Yemen.
Details of the Voting in Parliament
The House of Representatives, which is mainly composed of el-Sisi's supporters, held three rare and confidential sessions on this issue and postponed the voting twice. Last week, el-Sisi asked the parliament to approve military support "upon Saudi request." It is still unclear what type of support can be provided by Egypt, which has the largest army in the Arab world.
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Consequences and Diplomatic Priorities
In his recent speech, el-Sisi stated that his country's support would be for "defending the territory of Saudi Arabia" and would not include attacking Yemen. He added: "We are talking about defending the territory and borders of the kingdom" and emphasized that the main priority should be a diplomatic solution. In this context, he announced on Monday that he is in daily contact with Iranian officials to promote the reduction of regional tensions.
Saudi Arabia is one of the largest financial supporters of el-Sisi's government, and this support has particularly strengthened after the ousting of Mohamed Morsi, the former Islamic president, in 2013. In his speech on Saturday, el-Sisi stated that it is "unimaginable" for Cairo to be indifferent to security threats and stability that endanger Saudi Arabia.
The unprecedented Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and the country's oil blockade threaten two major sources of foreign currency for Egypt: the Suez Canal and remittances from Egyptian workers in Saudi Arabia. Since Saudi Arabia hosts the largest number of Egyptians abroad, remittances sent from this country reached $12 billion in the last fiscal year, surpassing the revenues from the Suez Canal in 2023.
However, Cairo has preferred to prioritize diplomacy over military intervention over the past decade and has acted as a regional mediator in various conflict lines, including with Hamas, Israel, and Iran. This country has decided to support Saudi Arabia while it did not react specifically even in the face of an attack by an unidentified drone on the port of Damietta in July.
According to H.A. Hellyer, a senior researcher at the Royal United Services Institute, the change in Egypt's calculations is due to a sense of danger regarding the situation in Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea. He also noted that the Saudis are seeking political support and symbolic presence from Egypt in Saudi Arabia.
However, there is a possibility that Egypt's military deployment in Saudi Arabia may be "limited." While this matter is still under consideration, future events may influence further decision-making.
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