Egypt’s House of Representatives has approved, by a two-thirds majority of its members, a mandate authorizing President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to take all necessary measures to support and defend Saudi Arabia against any external aggression, following a series of closed-door parliamentary sessions.
In an official statement, the House said the authorized measures would be coordinated with Riyadh and aimed at protecting the Kingdom’s territory, sovereignty and holy sites, in accordance with the decisions of Egypt’s National Defence Council.
The approval followed closed-door deliberations held on October 18, 19 and 26, at the request of the president, to discuss the evolving regional situation and its implications for Egyptian and Arab national security.
The sessions were chaired by House Speaker Hisham Badawi and attended by Hani Hanna, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, and Major General Khaled Shehdy, Assistant Minister of Defense for Constitutional and Legal Affairs.
According to the parliamentary statement, lawmakers representing various political parties, affiliations and independent members were given the opportunity to express their views on regional developments and the potential consequences for regional stability and national security.
The deliberations concluded with approval by the required two-thirds majority to authorize El-Sisi to take the necessary measures to support the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with a focus on defensive action against external aggression.
Constitutional Framework for Military Deployment
Egypt’s Constitution and parliamentary regulations impose strict requirements on declaring war or deploying the Armed Forces on combat missions outside the country.
Article 152 of the Constitution stipulates that the president, as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, cannot declare war or send military forces abroad on combat missions without consulting the National Defence Council and obtaining the approval of the required parliamentary majority.
Article 130 of the House of Representatives’ internal regulations sets out the procedures for considering such decisions, requiring an urgent closed-door session convened at the president’s request following consultation with the National Defence Council.
If Parliament is not in session, the Constitution provides for consultation with the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and approval from the Cabinet and the National Defence Council.
On October 18, Egypt’s National Defence Council expressed support for providing defensive assistance to Saudi Arabia while emphasizing the importance of diplomatic efforts to contain regional escalation.
President El-Sisi subsequently stated on October 21 that Egypt’s potential military involvement would focus on defending Saudi territory and borders and would exclude attacks on Yemen.
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty also reiterated on Monday that deploying Egyptian troops to Saudi Arabia for defensive purposes required parliamentary approval.
Egypt Reaffirms Support for Saudi Arabia
The parliamentary authorization underscores Cairo’s commitment to coordinating with Riyadh in addressing security threats and protecting the Kingdom’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
In its statement, the House emphasized that any measures would be undertaken in coordination with Saudi Arabia and in line with the framework agreed upon by Egypt’s National Defence Council during its October 18, 2026, session.
The statement concluded with a prayer for the protection of Egypt, its leadership and people, and the Arab nation from harm and danger.
