Egyptian Parliament Pushes Back Vote on Military Aid to Saudi Arabia

Egypt’s House of Representatives has adjourned the vote on authorising a military contribution to Saudi Arabia until Oct 26, extending deliberations over the kingdom’s request for defence assistance amid rising Houthi attacks from Yemen. The proposal would enable President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to deploy troops after receiving clearance from the National Defence Council, but it still requires a two-thirds parliamentary majority.

The opposition Egyptian Social Democratic Party instructed its lawmakers to abstain, arguing that parliament has not been provided sufficient information on the operation’s objectives, duration, cost or risks, although most of its members appear to support the measure. Saudi Arabia recently suffered a missile strike on its international airport that killed 13 people, and el-Sisi said Egypt would take “any measure” to protect Gulf allies, stressing a defensive stance.

Analysts note that Saudi financial inflows and regional security are vital for Egypt’s fragile economy, with the Suez Canal losing billions due to Houthi threats and the EGX30 index reacting to the political uncertainty. Experts warn Egypt does not want to be seen as passive while other regional partners commit to defending Saudi Arabia.