Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on October 11 called on the country's parliament to hold an emergency session to authorize him to approve any defense support requests from Saudi Arabia, should Riyadh make them.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony at the Egyptian Military Academy, Sisi said Cairo is ready to back Saudi Arabia. He said Egypt would "take all measures to protect" Saudi Arabia "under the direction of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman."
"I know this matter requires the approval of Egypt's parliament, and I hope parliament will hold an emergency session to grant us this authorization, if we are asked," he said.
The Egyptian leader stressed: "I am not saying this so that we fight or attack anyone. I am saying it for defensive purposes only."
Attacks on Saudi Arabia
The move follows a series of attacks on Saudi Arabia by the Iran-backed Houthi force in Yemen, including on airports and oil facilities.
Recent Houthi air raids have mainly targeted key infrastructure on the outskirts of the capital Riyadh, but appear to be moving closer to the city center.
Earlier this month, Houthi attacks on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport killed 14 people and wounded more than 300. Attacks were also recorded at several other airports, including Dammam, Abha, Jazan and Najran.
This month, Yemen's internationally recognized government, backed by Saudi Arabia, launched a large-scale military campaign to retake territory controlled by the Houthis.
In September, at a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Cairo, Sisi endorsed Riyadh's call for ensuring safety and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. A statement from the Egyptian Presidency at the time said "the security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states is an inseparable part of Egypt's national security."
Red Sea security
That meeting took place just days after the Houthis seized Yemen's Red Sea coast, giving them significant control over the Bab al-Mandeb strait, the southern gateway to the Suez Canal.
Saudi Arabia already has a defense treaty with Pakistan and Turkey, known as the Mecca Defense Alliance, signed in August. Earlier this month, the three countries agreed to activate "deterrence measures" under the pact and rapidly deploy forces to the kingdom to counter Houthi attacks.
Analysts say Riyadh is seeking support to protect the kingdom and shipping in the Red Sea, and Egypt — whose Suez Canal revenue depends on that very shipping route — is the obvious partner.
According to analysts, Egypt wants to prevent Iran and its allies from imposing control over the region, especially maritime activity in the Red Sea, given the direct impact on the Suez Canal.
Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of encouraging Houthi attacks on the kingdom, a charge Tehran denies. Iran has offered support to end the conflict between the two sides.
