Mandate to support Saudi Arabia.. How is the decision heading within the Egyptian Parliament?

- The Egyptian House of Representatives extended its discussions regarding President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s request for authorization to send Egyptian forces to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, amid expectations that it will be approved in light of the tendency of the majority of members of the House to approve it. The Secretary-General of the Republican People's Party and Chairman of the Arab Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives, Mohamed Salah Abu Hamila, said that there is a consensus within the House regarding approval of the mandate, likely to approve it.

He pointed out that, according to his estimate, the parties supporting the movement constitute more than two-thirds of the Council’s members, which is what the Constitution stipulates in the event of declaring war or sending forces outside the borders of the state. At a time, the Egyptian Social Democratic Party announced its abstention from voting.

On Saturday, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi called on the House of Representatives to hold an emergency session to give him a mandate to take the necessary measures to defend Saudi Arabia “if the Kingdom requests it.” In a meeting chaired by Sisi, the National Defense Council affirmed its solidarity with Saudi Arabia, and decided to provide it with the necessary and possible forms of support to defend its security and stability and preserve its lands and Islamic sanctities, in addition to intensifying political and diplomatic efforts to reduce escalation and settle regional crises peacefully.

Abu Hamila said, in exclusive statements to Ofek News in Arabic, that “supporting Saudi Arabia represents a national duty,” stressing that “the security of the Kingdom and the Gulf states is linked to Egyptian and Arab national security, and that relations between Cairo and Riyadh are not limited to historical ties, but also include strategic and economic interests.” He added, "Egypt does not forget Saudi Arabia's supportive positions in 1973 and 2013," but stressed that "the Kingdom's support does not come only from the standpoint of returning the favor, but rather as a national duty toward a sister country."

He pointed out that "Saudi Arabia's geographical location makes its security linked to Egypt's strategic interests, especially in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, given its importance to navigation and Egyptian interests." Abu Hamila pointed out that “relations between the two countries include investment and economic cooperation, as well as Arab and religious ties, in light of the position that Saudi Arabia occupies among Egyptians and Muslims due to the presence of the Holy Kaaba and the Prophet’s Mosque on its lands.”

Regarding the House of Representatives’ discussions, Abu Hamila explained that a large number of members requested to speak about the mandate, which led to the discussions taking longer than expected and the vote being postponed. He suggested that the mandate would be approved, but he said that he did not have confirmed information regarding the final voting date, perhaps Monday or Tuesday. On the other hand, the Egyptian Social Democratic Party announced that its parliamentary body would abstain from voting on the authorization, explaining that the decision is based on the lack of sufficient information regarding the objectives, nature, scope and duration of the potential military mission, in addition to its costs and the risks to which the Egyptian forces may be exposed.

The party affirmed its solidarity with Saudi Arabia and the Arab countries, while stressing the need to define the goals of any foreign military participation and ensure that it does not turn into an open commitment in a regional conflict, warning of repercussions that may affect Egypt’s ability to continue its diplomatic role. The party called for giving priority to political solutions and settling disputes by peaceful means, in addition to strengthening Arab defense cooperation within a clear institutional framework that defines responsibilities and obligations between countries.

For his part, military expert Hamdi Bakhit said that "various forms of support for Saudi Arabia are on the table, including military support if necessary," considering that "regional challenges and external interventions require strengthening cooperation between Arab countries to confront common threats." Bakhit added, in exclusive statements to Ofek News in Arabic, that “the Kingdom’s support does not aim to engage in wars, but rather to protect stability and confront threats to Egyptian and Arab national security,” noting that “the turbulent situation in Yemen and the threats facing navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait affect Egyptian strategic interests.”

Bakhit pointed out that Egypt warned against expanding the scope of the conflict in the region, and called for stopping the fighting and resorting to negotiations. He believed that "the Egyptian move aims to protect national and Arab interests, and not expand the confrontations."

He pointed out that the disruption of sea lanes, especially the Bab al-Mandab Strait, affects the movement of global trade, investments and the international economy, stressing the importance of protecting maritime navigation and stability in the region, while continuing diplomatic efforts to avoid the widening scope of confrontations.