Egypt's defence council backs Saudi troop mission; parliament vote pending

Egypt’s National Defence Council has approved sending troops to Saudi Arabia on a defensive mission, according to an Egyptian MP, though parliament — not the council — holds the binding decision, Gulf News reports.

Mostafa Bakry, a member of the House of Representatives, reported on X that the council approved both the deployment and the troops’ assigned mission at a meeting chaired by President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi at Al Ittihadiya Palace on Sunday.

The presidency’s own account of the meeting pledged support for Saudi Arabia’s security but did not explicitly announce a troop deployment. Its statement set out three commitments: solidarity with the kingdom, “all necessary and possible” assistance to defend it, and intensified diplomatic efforts to reduce regional tensions.

Parliament was due to meet in an emergency plenary at 1pm Cairo time (3pm PKT) on Sunday under Speaker Hesham Badawy. Article 152 of Egypt’s constitution requires any foreign combat mission to be backed by consultation with the defence council and approval by two-thirds of the House of Representatives. The session’s outcome had not been reported at the time of writing.

The council reviewed what it described as escalating, unacceptable attacks on Saudi Arabia and linked Saudi national security to Egypt’s and the wider Arab world’s. The move follows Sisi’s call on Saturday at the Egyptian Military Academy graduation for authorisation to take defensive measures at the kingdom’s request: “Egypt is ready to take any measure Saudi Arabia requests to defend its security and sovereignty.”