Egypt’s Sisi says army will defend Gulf Arabs in case of direct threat

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi speaks during a news conference after the talks with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in Cairo, Egypt December 11, 2017. REUTERS/Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said the army will come to the defence of Gulf Arabs if they face any direct threats, a pro-government newspaper said on Tuesday.


Youm7 newspaper also quoted Sisi as saying in response to a question on U.S. sanctions on Iran: “Instability affects us all and any state that has instability affects all of us.”

Sisi’s Egypt is aligned with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, joining their boycott of Qatar last year and opposing Iran’s regional influence.

“Our Arab peoples must remain aware and have true consciousness of what the region is going through,” Youm7 quoted Sisi as saying.

“We stand by our brothers in the Gulf wholeheartedly and if Gulf security is directly threatened by anyone, the Egyptian people, even before their leadership, will not accept that and will mobilise forces to protect their brethren.”