By Junaid Qaiser
The escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia are becoming a test of regional solidarity, strategic partnerships and the ability of neighbouring countries to protect stability in the Gulf. What was once largely viewed through the lens of Yemen’s conflict is now a wider security concern, drawing renewed attention from Egypt, Pakistan, the United States and other regional powers. The message is increasingly clear: threats to Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty cannot be treated as an isolated matter.
US President Donald Trump has highlighted this changing regional dynamic by sharing a statement attributed to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who expressed Egypt’s willingness to take necessary measures to protect Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks. Sisi’s position reflects Cairo’s longstanding commitment to Gulf security and its recognition that instability in the Arabian Peninsula can have serious consequences far beyond Yemen.
Egypt’s position is rooted in both strategic necessity and longstanding political ties. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have provided substantial financial, economic and logistical support to Egypt over the years. Their partnership has helped Cairo navigate difficult economic periods while strengthening relations between two influential Arab countries. For Egypt, therefore, the security of the Gulf is closely connected to its own economic interests, regional standing and national security.
Geography makes this relationship even more significant. Egypt controls the northern entrance to the Red Sea through the Suez Canal, one of the world’s most important commercial waterways. Any sustained escalation in the Red Sea region threatens maritime trade, energy supplies and the movement of goods between Asia and Europe. Houthi attacks consequently carry implications for the wider international economy, not merely for Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
Sisi’s stated readiness to support the Kingdom, subject to the necessary authorisation and coordination, signals that Cairo regards the current situation as a matter requiring serious preparation. However, military preparedness should not be confused with a desire for a wider war. The objective must remain the protection of sovereignty, the prevention of further attacks and the restoration of conditions in which diplomacy can succeed.
Pakistan has also reaffirmed its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his meeting with Saudi Arabia’s newly appointed ambassador, Dr Rajeh Tami Albugamy, reiterated Islamabad’s support for the Kingdom’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. He strongly condemned the escalation in Houthi attacks, including incidents that have killed or injured civilians and Pakistani nationals.
This position is particularly important given the depth of Pakistan-Saudi relations. Millions of Pakistanis have longstanding personal, professional and economic connections with the Kingdom, while Saudi Arabia has consistently played an important role in supporting Pakistan’s economy. The two countries share close defence and diplomatic ties, reinforced by their Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement and the Makkah Joint Defence Alliance.
These arrangements represent more than formal declarations. They reflect a shared understanding that security cooperation, strategic consultation and mutual assistance are essential in a region facing increasingly complex threats. Pakistan’s assurance that it will fulfil its obligations under its defence agreements demonstrates the importance Islamabad attaches to its relationship with Riyadh.
Nevertheless, Pakistan must carefully balance its defence commitments with its longstanding preference for a political settlement in Yemen. Supporting Saudi Arabia’s security does not require abandoning diplomacy. Indeed, the most effective regional strategy would combine credible deterrence with sustained efforts to prevent further escalation.
Islamabad can contribute through diplomatic engagement, intelligence cooperation, defence coordination and support for negotiations that address the underlying causes of the conflict. Its relationships across the Muslim world give it an opportunity to encourage restraint while making clear that attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure are unacceptable.
The wider regional implications have also brought renewed attention to the possibility of Saudi-Israeli normalisation under the Abraham Accords. Trump has said that normalisation is back on the table, suggesting that Saudi Arabia is increasingly appreciative of Israeli and American support against the Houthis. His comments indicate that the current security crisis could influence diplomatic calculations that have remained unresolved for years.
The Abraham Accords, initiated during Trump’s first administration, established a framework for normalisation between Israel and several Arab states. Bringing Saudi Arabia into that framework would represent a major shift in Middle Eastern diplomacy, with potential consequences for trade, investment, technology, intelligence cooperation and regional security.
Saudi Arabia has a legitimate right to defend its territory and protect its population. Egypt and Pakistan, meanwhile, have strong reasons to support the Kingdom’s security and stability. The challenge is to translate these shared interests into a coordinated approach that deters further attacks while avoiding a conflict that could engulf the wider region.
The present crisis could become an opportunity to strengthen cooperation among responsible regional powers. It could also become another turning point towards prolonged confrontation if strategic restraint gives way to miscalculation.
The choice is clear. Saudi Arabia’s security must be protected, maritime trade must remain safe, and regional partnerships must deliver practical results. But the ultimate measure of success will not be the number of military commitments announced or alliances formed. It will be whether these efforts prevent further bloodshed and create the conditions for lasting peace.
For Pakistan, Egypt and their partners, standing with Saudi Arabia should mean defending its sovereignty while working towards a more secure and prosperous Middle East. Deterrence may help prevent aggression, but diplomacy remains essential to ensuring that the next crisis does not become a wider regional war.
