US Grants Egypt $1.3 Billion in Military Aid, Bypassing Human Rights Conditions – Reuters

By Simon Lewis

WASHINGTON – The Biden administration has decided to overlook human rights conditions tied to military aid for Egypt. According to a State Department spokesperson, the U.S. will provide the full allocation of $1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt this year, marking the first occurrence of this during the current administration, despite persistent concerns regarding human rights practices in the country.

This announcement coincides with the U.S. reliance on Egypt, a long-standing ally, to mediate unsuccessful negotiations between Israel and Hamas aimed at establishing a ceasefire in Gaza.

From the $1.3 billion allocated for Egypt, $320 million has typically been contingent on meeting specific human rights criteria, leading to partial withholding of funds in the past. On Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken informed Congress that he would waive a certification requirement concerning $225 million linked to Egypt’s human rights record, citing U.S. national security interests.

"This decision is crucial for promoting regional peace and acknowledges Egypt’s ongoing contributions to U.S. national security priorities, especially in concluding a ceasefire agreement for Gaza, repatriating hostages, facilitating humanitarian aid for Palestinians, and helping to resolve the Israel-Hamas conflict," the spokesperson stated.

Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat and chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Middle East subcommittee, noted that military assistance has been withheld in the past on human rights grounds while maintaining a strategic relationship with Egypt. "It’s no secret that Egypt is a highly repressive state, and I see no justification for disregarding that reality by waiving these requirements," Murphy remarked.

Cairo remains a vital regional partner for Washington, even amidst allegations of extensive abuses under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, which include torture and enforced disappearances. Sisi has consistently denied the existence of political prisoners in Egypt, insisting that stability and security are top priorities, and that authorities are fostering rights through efforts to provide essential services like jobs and housing.

The conflict in Gaza, which intensified following attacks by Palestinian militants on October 7, has increased U.S. dependence on Cairo for diplomatic initiatives, including the ceasefire talks. Additionally, humanitarian aid to Gaza is often routed through Egypt.

Blinken had previously issued a similar waiver on human rights conditions last year but chose to withhold some military aid based on Egypt’s lack of "clear and consistent progress" in releasing political prisoners. This year, he assessed that Egypt had made enough progress on the issue to release $95 million linked to political prisoner concerns.

The spokesperson highlighted Egypt’s efforts towards legislative reform in pretrial detention and the broader penal code, the release of several political prisoners, and actions to lift travel bans and asset freezes related to foreign funding for NGOs. However, rights organizations have expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the proposed legislation for curtailing abusive practices and noted that some human rights attorneys remain under travel restrictions.

Seth Binder, director of advocacy for the Middle East Democracy Center, indicated that while around 970 prisoners had been released since last September, at least 2,278 Egyptians were arbitrarily detained during the same timeframe, based on data gathered by his organization and local human rights groups.

"There is no reasonable perspective from which to argue that the human rights situation in Egypt has improved. It remains a significant crisis," Binder stated, emphasizing that tens of thousands of political prisoners continue to be held in the country.

The State Department spokesperson confirmed that Washington is maintaining "a rigorous dialogue with the Egyptian government on the necessity of concrete human rights improvements essential for sustaining a robust U.S.-Egypt partnership."