Egypt’s parliament has pushed back a vote on whether to let its armed forces support Saudi Arabia, a kingdom facing growing attacks from the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen. The House of Representatives said on Monday that the vote had been adjourned until October 26.
The delay extends a debate over Egypt’s possible role in the Yemen conflict. Parliament has been asked to authorise President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to approve any request from Riyadh for defence assistance.
Opposition party tells lawmakers to abstain
The opposition Egyptian Social Democratic Party instructed its lawmakers to abstain. It said parliament had not been given enough information about the mission’s aims, how long it would last, what it would cost, or the dangers facing Egyptian troops.
The party, which holds nearly a dozen seats, nonetheless said most of its members back the measure. Two members of parliament who spoke to a news agency said as much.
Houthi attacks prompt Cairo’s pledge of support
The request for help followed a Houthi attack last week on Riyadh’s international airport and on the state oil company Saudi Aramco. Saudi authorities say 13 people were killed in the October 10 attack on the airport.
On Saturday, el-Sisi said Egypt would take “any measure” needed to protect its Gulf allies. He insisted the discussion concerned defence alone. “I’m not talking about confronting or attacking anyone,” he said. “We’re talking only about defence.”
Under Egypt’s constitution, sending troops on a combat mission abroad requires a two-thirds parliamentary majority, but only after approval from the National Defence Council, which el-Sisi chairs. The council gave its approval on Sunday. The same day, the Grand Imam of al-Azhar urged Arab and Muslim leaders to mediate over the parliamentary decision and prevent further bloodshed.
Economic ties and market reaction in Egypt
Saudi Arabia plays a major role in financing Egypt’s struggling economy. It is due to deposit $5.3bn into Egypt’s central bank this month, along with $267.39m in interest.
Egypt’s EGX30 stock index dipped early on Monday over concerns about possible military involvement, but it recovered to close 0.4 percent higher. Nematallah Choucri, head of research at HC Securities, told a news agency that geopolitical developments were the main driver of recent market losses.
Egypt is also affected by a shortage of oil and gas exports from the Middle East, linked to the United States war on Iran and fighting in Yemen. Its economy also leans heavily on remittances from Egyptians working in Saudi Arabia’s hydrocarbons industry.
Suez Canal risks and regional defence pacts
Political analyst and Gulf studies expert Thomas Bonnie James said the Houthi threat to Saudi Arabia also endangers the Suez Canal. Egypt’s foreign minister says the waterway has lost about $11bn since the Houthis began attacks in the Bab al-Mandeb strait in 2023, in solidarity with Gaza.
James also said Egypt does not want to be seen as the regional ally that “stood aside while others defended the kingdom.”
Separately, Turkiye and Pakistan have made their own pledges after activating the Mecca defence pact with Riyadh, which was signed in August, amid the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East.
