Egypt approves troop deployment to Saudi Arabia pending parliamentary vote

Egypt’s National Defence Council has approved the deployment of troops to Saudi Arabia for a defensive mission, Egyptian lawmaker Mostafa Bakry announced on Sunday, 18 October. The decision follows a high-level meeting at Al Ittihadiya Palace chaired by President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, amid what the council described as escalating and unacceptable attacks on the kingdom. Parliamentary Approval Pending The House of Representatives was scheduled to convene an emergency session at 1:00 PM Cairo time on Sunday, 18 October, to deliberate on the deployment. Under Article 152 of the Egyptian Constitution, sending armed forces on missions outside national borders requires consultation with the National Defence Council and a two-thirds majority approval from parliament. Speaker Hesham Badawy will preside over the session, which follows President Al Sisi’s call on Saturday, 17 October, for legal authorisation to take defensive measures in support of Riyadh. The president stated during a ceremony at the Egyptian Military Academy that Egypt stands ready to take any measure requested by Saudi Arabia to defend its sovereignty and security. Strategic Defence Coordination The National Defence Council meeting included the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defence, the Armed Forces Chief of Staff, and the ministers of interior, finance, and foreign affairs. While the presidency’s official statement did not explicitly name the troop count, it confirmed a commitment to providing all necessary…