BANGKOK, — Egypt has pledged full support to Saudi Arabia amid escalating Houthi attacks, confirming its readiness to provide any assistance requested by Riyadh, including potential military support.
Speaking to Bloomberg Television on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund’s annual meetings in Bangkok, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said, “Whatever is being asked by the Saudis, of course we will respond.” He added, “Without any reservation, we are providing all kind of support.”
The pledge follows reported Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi targets, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, where at least 13 people were reportedly killed and more than 300 injured. Other reported targets include Khamis Mushait and oil facilities in Dammam.
Abdelatty stressed that Saudi Arabia’s national security is an integral part of Egyptian and wider Arab national security. He condemned attacks on civilian targets and violations of Saudi sovereignty. Egypt has also coordinated with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan over the regional security situation.
Egypt Calls on Iran to Stop Attacks
Abdelatty spoke by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, calling for an immediate halt to attacks on Saudi territory. He described the strikes as unjustified and unacceptable and warned that continued attacks could further destabilize the Middle East.
He also met the chief executive of the Saudi Fund for Development and held talks with the secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as part of Cairo’s diplomatic engagement on regional security.
On Sunday, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan issued a joint statement condemning the Houthi attacks and expressing support for measures Saudi Arabia takes to counter them.
Egypt Considers Joining Mecca Defence Pact
Egypt is also seriously considering joining the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, Abdelatty confirmed. The pact was signed on August 7, 2026, by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Under its terms, an armed attack against one participating country is regarded as an attack against all three.
Abdelatty said Egypt’s participation remained under serious consideration. Cairo is already consulting with Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan through a framework known as “regional four” (R4), which provides a platform for discussions on regional security.
Red Sea Disruptions Affect Egypt’s Economy
Houthi activity around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has disrupted Red Sea shipping routes, affecting maritime traffic linked to the Suez Canal, a major source of foreign currency for Egypt.
Egypt has historically been cautious about military involvement in Yemen. During President Gamal Abdel Nasser’s rule, Egypt deployed approximately 70,000 troops in the North Yemen Civil War from 1962 to 1967, suffering heavy financial and human losses. Historians have often compared the intervention to the United States’ experience in Vietnam.
Despite these economic and security concerns, Cairo continues to favour political and diplomatic solutions to the wider Yemen conflict while maintaining its commitment to support Saudi Arabia.
Egypt’s potential participation in the Mecca defence pact remains under consideration, with its future role dependent on regional developments and decisions by the Egyptian government.
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