The Egyptian parliament has postponed a vote which would authorise the government to provide military support to Saudi Arabia and defend it against Yemen's Houthi attacks, raising questions about Cairo’s willingness to become militarily involved in the regional conflict.
The vote, initially scheduled for Monday 19 October, has been delayed until 26 October.
Parliament convened an emergency session on Sunday at the request of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, an hour after the National Defence Council, comprising the president and senior ministers and military and security officials, approved the principle of supporting Saudi Arabia.
The postponement is significant, given that parliament, dominated by pro-government forces, routinely approves major executive decisions without prolonged debate. This time, MPs held consecutive sessions without reaching a vote before postponing it for another week.
The move is unprecedented, as emergency parliamentary sessions have previously lasted no more than three consecutive days.
Parliamentary sources told The New Arab that the delay was partly due to the absence of the usual directives sent to blocs aligned with the government to guide their positions on major decisions. MPs had received no clear guidance on how to vote on Sisi's request, amid uncertainty over the leadership's position on the nature and limits of any potential military involvement in Yemen.
The sources said this didn't necessarily indicate opposition to supporting Saudi Arabia, but suggested the decision had yet to reach the political stage required for approval through parliament's usual procedures.
Cairo may still be examining its options or waiting for greater clarity on the confrontation before deciding whether to participate, the sources added.
Saudi support remains under consideration
The same sources explained that the delay was down to military and economic calculations surrounding any potential Egyptian involvement. The establishment of a military logistical air corridor between Egypt and Saudi Arabia doesn't mean that the decision to deploy troops has been made, they said.
Key questions remain over the expected cost of the war, the scope of Egypt's possible contribution and the military and financial obligations involved. Providing defensive assistance inside Saudi Arabia would entail different tasks and risks from participating in direct combat operations inside Yemen.
Any deployment would require assessments of its duration, the number of troops and capabilities needed, command and coordination arrangements, as well as regard given to the potential expansion of the conflict and its regional security implications.
These concerns were also raised by political parties and MPs during parliamentary discussions, particularly over the lack of information about the mission's objectives, duration, likely cost and risks to Egyptian soldiers.
The Egyptian Social Democratic Party said its parliamentary bloc intended to abstain from the vote, citing ambiguity over the mission and its obligations. Other MPs called for further discussion before a vote was taken.
Party MP Freddy ElBaiady told The New Arab that parliament's role extended beyond voting on the authorisation request to examining its implications and ensuring that the mission's purpose and limits were clearly defined.
Supporting Saudi Arabia and safeguarding its stability did not necessarily mean direct military intervention was the only available option, he said.
ElBaiady added that any military decision should account for potential casualties, financial costs and additional pressure on Egypt's economy, as well as possible repercussions for shipping through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
A lawmaker from a liberal party aligned with the government, who requested anonymity, said neither Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Defence Minister Ashraf Salem Zaher, nor any of their representatives had attended closed-door discussions to explain the authorisation request.
This left MPs unable to assess the military assistance Riyadh might seek, the duration of the proposed authorisation or the financial burden on Egyptian citizens, the lawmaker said.
The MP said he opposed the authorisation despite his party's supportive position, adding that the lack of a clear government vision had left lawmakers to make their own assessments. Many were prepared, in principle, to provide Saudi forces with equipment and experts to help them counter Houthi attacks, but wanted clear government plans before committing Egyptian troops to combat abroad.
Strategic ties with Gulf states
Egypt's close financial and investment ties with Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, make supporting Riyadh an important strategic consideration for Cairo. However, these relationships do not remove the need to assess the costs of military involvement.
Article 152 of Egypt's constitution stipulates that deploying troops on a combat mission outside the country requires consultation with the National Defence Council and approval by a two-thirds majority of parliament.
The vote is therefore a constitutional requirement, not merely a formality. Even if MPs approve the authorisation, this would not necessarily mean an immediate deployment or settle the form and timing of Egyptian involvement.
Granting the political leadership authority to act if necessary remains distinct from taking a specific executive decision on troop numbers, mission objectives and the theatre of operations.
This article was originally published by The New Arab's Arabic language edition, and has been translated into English. Click here to read the original Arabic version.