CAIRO — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi affirmed that Egypt would take all necessary measures to protect and defend Saudi Arabia, in accordance with the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. He stressed that any Egyptian action, if requested, would be strictly defensive in nature and not aimed at fighting or attacking any party. Addressing the graduation ceremony of the first batch of the Egyptian Military Academy in Cairo on Saturday, El-Sisi said Egypt could not accept any harm to Saudi Arabia, its security, or its stability. He reaffirmed Cairo’s readiness to stand alongside its brothers in the Gulf and provide the necessary support to protect and defend their lands. He stated that any such measures would require the approval of the Egyptian Parliament, calling for a parliamentary session to grant the necessary authorization should Egypt be asked to take action. He emphasized that his remarks concerned defense alone, not waging war against or attacking any party. El-Sisi called for an end to the ongoing war in the region, expressing hope that the fighting would cease and that ongoing efforts would help contain the escalation. He noted that Egypt’s commitment to protecting its brothers in the Gulf would remain unchanged, regardless of whether calls to end the war succeeded. The Egyptian President praised the support extended by the Gulf states, led by the Kingdom, to Egypt during the economic crisis that followed the events of 2011. He stressed that this assistance helped the Egyptian state overcome extremely difficult circumstances marked by declining monetary reserves, economic contraction, a halt in tourism, and fuel shortages. He pointed out that oil, gas, and butane gas supplies delivered to Egypt at the time came without accounting, as he put it, highlighting the challenges of meeting the country’s needs amid dwindling resources and depleted cash reserves. Al-Sisi stressed that Egypt would never forget the support of its brothers in the Gulf, underscoring the importance of acknowledging and appreciating their assistance. He noted that the achievements made were not the result of Egypt’s efforts alone, but rather were made possible by God’s grace and the support of its brothers. El-Sisi called on the Egyptian Armed Forces to render a military salute to their brothers in the Gulf in recognition of their supportive positions toward Egypt. He emphasized that recalling these gestures reaffirmed the depth of relations between Egypt and the Gulf states, as well as Cairo’s commitment to supporting the security and stability of the region.