Repeated assaults against Egyptian diplomatic missions: Who protects diplomats abroad?

CAIRO - 21 August 2025: A circulated video on social media showed the security of Egypt’s Consulate in New York defending themselves and the Consulate from an assault as one of a series of recent attacks organized by members of the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood group against Egypt’s diplomatic missions abroad.

 Earlier this month a similar attack took place against the Egyptian diplomatic mission in the Netherlands, of which Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty deeply condemned.

According to a 19th August statement, Minister Abdelatty stressed the importance of providing security protection for the Egyptian diplomatic mission in the Netherlands, highlighting the Dutch side's responsibility under international law to protect it from any violations.

He expressed extreme dissatisfaction with the attack on the Egyptian Embassy in The Hague and underscored the Netherlands' responsibility to ensure it doesn't happen again.

The Dutch minister expressed his deep regret over the ‘individual incident’ that occurred in front of the Egyptian Embassy. He confirmed that he had spoken with the relevant security authorities, who intend to increase security measures at the embassy.

But, after repeating the assault in New York, how the international law regulates protecting diplomatic mission all over the world?

According to the international law, embassies and diplomatic missions all over the world are protected by the host country’s authorities. An attack on a diplomatic mission might even be considered a flagrant violation of international law and can lead to formal protests, the severing of diplomatic relations, or even recourse to the Security Council.

According to Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), the premises of a diplomatic mission are inviolable. They must not be entered, searched, seized, or damaged by the host country’s authorities. The host country has a special obligation to take all appropriate measures to protect the mission premises against intrusion, damage, or any breach of peace and dignity.

The diplomats are also ‘inviolable’ and cannot be subjected to arrest or detention under any circumstances according to the same Convention. And the host country must take all necessary measures to ensure their safety and well-being.

As for protecting the embassies and the diplomatic missions, embassies may employ their own guards, but they are not a substitute for state security forces. Legally, embassy guards may only act in self-defense against an imminent threat, as per general international law. They do not have policing powers such as arrest or the use of force beyond defensive action.

However, it’s commonly known that the internal security of embassies and diplomatic missions is handled by the country’s security or diplomatic staff. The external perimeter including streets and all surroundings, is mainly the responsibility of local police.

And in case of assault, similar as the incident showcased in the circulated video of Egypt’s Consulate in New York, the embassy security has the immediate right to defend lives and premises, and the host country must intervene without delay.

Principle of ‘reciprocity’

In a television interview on the DMC channel last week, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty commented on the repeated assaults against Egypt’s Missons, affirming that Cairo will always resort to implementing the principle of ‘reciprocity’, as an effective diplomatic tool to deter any violation of Egyptian missions.

The Minister confirmed that protection diplomatic missions is a reciprocal matter governed by international law. He emphasized that this measure falls within the framework of the policy of reciprocity, which is a legitimate right of any country whose missions are subject to violations or attacks.

Abdelatty explained that the Egyptian warnings prompted some countries to strengthen security measures around Egyptian embassies on their territory.

The Foreign Minister emphasized that embassies and their surroundings are subject to strict protection under international law and may not be violated under any circumstances.