Sisi says Egypt ready to defend Saudi Arabia if asked

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said Egypt was ready to take measures necessary to defend Saudi Arabia if requested, according to Japanese reports of his October 17 speech. Speaking at a military academy, he said threats to Saudi security and stability were unacceptable. Sankei Shimbun and Tokyo Shimbun, citing Egyptian media, reported that he did not set out a specific plan. [ 2 , 4 ]

Sisi said the purpose would be defence rather than starting a war. He called for an urgent parliamentary meeting and said he would seek the necessary authority. Egypt’s lower house decided to hold a plenary session on October 18, Sankei and Tokyo Shimbun reported. Jiji Press also reported that an extraordinary parliamentary session was expected to discuss the issue that day. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]

Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Egyptian troops were expected to support Saudi air-defence duties against Houthi missile attacks. That was presented as an expected mission, rather than an announced deployment. Sankei cited Middle Eastern media quoting military experts who considered it possible that Saudi Arabia had already requested troops and expected parliament to approve the proposal. [ 1 , 2 ]

Sankei reported that the Houthi side’s parliamentary speaker sent Egypt a letter on October 17 warning that intervention would pose serious risks to Egypt’s security and stability. It said the Houthis had repeatedly attacked targets including Riyadh’s airport, and that the Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting drones in Riyadh and elsewhere on October 17. Yomiuri reported that Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan had signed a joint defence agreement in August, and that Turkey and Pakistan agreed on October 5 to send forces to defend Saudi Arabia under that pact. [ 1 , 2 ]