Biden to withhold, restrict some military aid to Egypt – By Nahal Toosi (Politico) / Sept 13 2021
The move is a compromise that may disappoint some activists but nonetheless is arguably more human-rights-friendly than in the past.
The Biden administration has decided it will hold back some — but not most — of $300 million in conditioned military aid to Egypt over human rights concerns, a U.S. official said late Monday. The money that is being sent will also have restrictions on its use.
The decision is a compromise that may disappoint some lawmakers and activists worried about abuses in the majority-Arab country. But it is also arguably a more human-rights-friendly stance than most previous administrations have taken when it comes to U.S. military aid to Egypt.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to take the unprecedented step of not using a waiver that would have let him send the funds along, the U.S. official said.
Spokespersons for Blinken and the State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent via email and text.
The U.S. gives Egypt $1.3 billion in military aid annually. Of that, Congress has put human-rights-related conditions on $300 million. But the secretary of State can overrule those conditions and let the aid reach Cairo, which has been the standard move.
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