Egypt's parliament has postponed its vote on allowing the country's armed forces to support Saudi Arabia — a kingdom facing mounting attacks from the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen — until October 26. The House of Representatives announced the decision on Monday, extending debate over Cairo's role in the Yemen conflict.
According to sources, the opposition Egyptian Social Democratic Party has asked its MPs to abstain. The party argues that parliament has not been given enough information about the mission's objectives, duration and cost, or the risks to Egyptian soldiers. Still, according to two MPs who spoke to AFP, most of the party's lawmakers — who currently hold nearly a dozen seats — support the measure.
Egypt's parliament is tasked with authorizing President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to approve any request for defense support from Saudi Arabia, as the kingdom comes under Houthi attack. The request for support followed strikes by the Iran-backed armed group on Riyadh's international airport and state oil company Saudi Aramco last week. Saudi authorities said 13 people were killed in the October 10 airport attack.
On October 17, President el-Sisi declared that Egypt would take "all measures" needed to protect its Gulf allies. "I am not talking about confronting or attacking anyone. We are only talking about defense," he said.
Under Egypt's constitution, after approval by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces headed by el-Sisi, parliament must reach a two-thirds majority to deploy troops in an overseas combat operation. The council approved the proposal on Sunday.
Egypt's economy faces challenges
On the same day, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar called on Arab and Muslim leaders to mediate over the Egyptian parliament's decision, in order to prevent further bloodshed.
Saudi Arabia plays an important role in financing Egypt's struggling economy. Riyadh is expected to send $5.3 billion to Egypt's central bank this month, plus $267.39 million in interest.
Egypt's EGX30 index fell early on Monday on concerns about possible military involvement, but recovered and closed up 0.4 percent. Nematallah Choucri, head of research at HC Securities, told Reuters that geopolitical developments were the main factor driving the market's recent decline.
Egypt is also affected by a shortage of oil and gas export supplies from the Middle East, due to the US war with Iran and fighting in Yemen. The country's economy relies heavily on remittances from Egyptians working in the oil and gas sector in Saudi Arabia.
Threat to the Suez Canal
Political analyst and Gulf expert Thomas Bonnie James told Al Jazeera that the security threat from the Houthis to Saudi Arabia also affects Egypt's Suez Canal. According to Egypt's foreign minister, the canal has lost about $11 billion since the Houthis launched attacks in the Bab al-Mandeb strait in support of Gaza in 2023.
James also argued that Egypt does not want to be seen as a regional ally that "stands aside while others defend the kingdom." Turkey and Pakistan have also made separate commitments after activating the Mecca defense treaty with Riyadh, signed in August, amid the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East.
