El-Sisi Seeks Parliamentary Approval for Possible Saudi Defence

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi called for an emergency parliamentary session to authorise Egypt to defend Saudi Arabia if requested, during the Egyptian Military Academy’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, 17 October.

El-Sisi said Egypt was prepared to take measures to protect Saudi Arabia’s security and sovereignty, stressing that any such action would depend on a request from Riyadh and require parliamentary approval.

“We will take any action to protect Saudi Arabia, and I call on parliament to hold an emergency session to authorise this action if we are asked to do so,” El-Sisi added.

He emphasised that Egypt’s position was defensive, rather than an intention to initiate military action.

“We do not want to fight or attack anyone. We will only defend Saudi Arabia,” he added.

The president also reaffirmed Egypt’s support for other Gulf countries, stressing that Cairo would stand alongside them in the event of threats to their security or territorial integrity.

The remarks follow statements made by El-Sisi on Thursday, 15 October, when he said that threats to Saudi Arabia would also affect Egyptian and Arab national security.

Saturday’s comments went further by outlining the possibility of seeking parliamentary authorisation for defensive measures if Saudi Arabia formally requested Egyptian assistance.

No specific military measures were announced during the speech, and El-Sisi did not indicate that Saudi Arabia had submitted such a request.

El-Sisi’s remarks come amid escalating attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group on Saudi Arabia, including missile strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on 10 and 11 October that killed civilians and injured hundreds. The group has also targeted Saudi oil facilities, prompting Egypt to condemn the attacks and reaffirm its support for the Kingdom’s security and sovereignty.