The US State Department will not restrict any military funding to Egypt, including funds conditioned on human rights, a State Department spokesperson told CNN Wednesday.
The agency informed Congress Wednesday that it intends to provide Cairo with $1.3 billion in foreign military financing assistance, the spokesperson said.
Egypt has been accused of sweeping human rights violations under President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, but Cairo has been a key negotiator in the discussions about Gaza – a fact the spokesperson referenced in explaining the administration’s decision to fully provide the funding.
“This decision is important to advancing regional peace and Egypt’s specific and ongoing contributions to U.S. national security priorities, particularly to finalize a ceasefire agreement for Gaza, bring the hostages home, surge humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in need, and help bring an enduring end to the Israel-Hamas conflict. This decision also reflects Egypt’s crucial role in promoting a ceasefire in Sudan, and its instrumental efforts to get humanitarian assistance to the Sudanese people,” they said.
$225 million of that foreign military funding requires Egypt to meet broad human rights conditions. $95 million is contingent on the determination that Cairo “is making clear and consistent progress in releasing political prisoners, providing detainees with due process, and preventing the harassment and intimidation of American citizens.”
The vast majority of the funding – $980 million – does not have conditions.
