Egypt pledges defense of Saudi Arabia if requested amid Houthi attacks
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said October 10 at a military academy graduation that Cairo is ready to defend Saudi Arabia 'if requested' amid renewed Houthi attacks on Yemen. He stressed any deployment would need parliamentary approval and emphasized Egypt seeks only defense, not offensive action.
This matters to Nigerians because Houthi blockades of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait—combined with Iran's Hormuz pressure—threaten Red Sea shipping vital to Nigerian oil exports and import costs. Al-Sisi noted Egypt's Suez Canal has lost about $11 billion in revenue since Houthis began attacking ships following Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, with recent attacks killing 13 at Riyadh's airport last week.
While Egypt maintains strong ties with Gulf states, it has not joined the Mecca defence pact (Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan), preferring diplomacy. Al-Sisi said Egypt isn't seeking regional conflict roles but finds it 'inconceivable' to stand by if Saudi security is threatened.
Given Red Sea instability's potential impact on Nigerian trade and freight costs, should policymakers consider diversifying export routes or fuel subsidies to cushion shipping disruptions?