Egypt Weighs Military Support for Saudi Arabia as Yemen Conflict Threatens Red Sea Security

Egypt is attempting to balance its commitment to protecting Saudi Arabia against escalating Houthi attacks with calls for a diplomatic resolution to Yemen’s conflict, as lawmakers prepare to consider authorising military assistance to the kingdom on October 26. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has said any Egyptian involvement would focus on defending Saudi territory and its borders, ruling out offensive operations inside Yemen. However, the proposed deployment could mark a significant shift in Egypt’s involvement in the conflict, with implications for regional security, international shipping and Egypt’s already strained economy.

The Egyptian parliament postponed a vote on the proposal following a closed session on October 18, allowing lawmakers additional time to deliberate. The move comes as fighting between the Houthis, an Iran-aligned armed group, and Saudi-backed forces has intensified around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic passage connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The Egyptian government’s position reflects the challenge of supporting a longstanding regional ally without becoming directly involved in another protracted war. Egypt previously participated in the Saudi-led military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015, contributing naval forces to protect shipping routes and providing air support, alongside approximately 800 ground troops. Its role in combat, however, remained limited.

The current proposal would potentially expand that commitment beyond maritime security to the defence of Saudi territory itself. 

Saudi Arabia’s importance to Egypt extends beyond security cooperation. The kingdom has provided billions of dollars in financial assistance, central bank deposits and energy supplies, making it an important economic partner for Sisi’s government. Millions of Egyptians also live and work in Saudi Arabia, a major source of remittances for the nation. The conflict also threatens Egypt’s maritime trade and revenue from the Suez Canal. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a vital gateway for vessels travelling between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, and disruptions along the route can force ships to take longer, more expensive journeys around southern Africa. Houthi attacks on shipping since 2023 have already contributed to a substantial decline in Suez Canal revenue, with over $7 billion worth of damages. 

Nevertheless, Egypt faces significant risks if it becomes more deeply involved. Memories of its military intervention in Yemen during the 1960s remain a cautionary example. Under former president Gamal Abdel Nasser, Egypt deployed tens of thousands of troops to support one side in Yemen’s civil war, suffering heavy casualties in a campaign that strained relations with Saudi Arabia, which backed the opposing faction.

Cairo has since pursued a more cautious regional policy, seeking to maintain diplomatic channels with competing powers while avoiding commitments that could draw it into prolonged fighting. Egypt has also stopped short of joining the mutual defence arrangement established by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, despite signalling that it is considering membership.

The wider regional conflict adds another complication. The Houthis’ confrontation with Saudi Arabia has become increasingly entangled with the spreading war involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Saudi Arabia sought American military assistance, but the White House declined to authorise strikes against the Houthis, instead offering intelligence-sharing and targeting support. An expanded Egyptian role could therefore increase the number of regional forces involved in a conflict that already extends beyond Yemen’s borders.

As Egypt approaches the October 26 vote, its challenge will be to reassure Saudi Arabia that it remains committed to the kingdom’s defence while limiting the risk of a wider military entanglement. Whether parliament approves the proposal, and what form any eventual assistance takes, could shape Egypt’s role in the conflict and the security of one of the world’s most important maritime corridors.