WASHINGTON: The Biden administration has decided to waive human rights conditions on military aid to Egypt, granting the US ally its full $1.3 billion aid allocation for this year. This decision marks the first time under this administration that Egypt will receive its full military aid without reductions, despite ongoing human rights concerns in the country.
The move comes as Washington relies heavily on Cairo to mediate the challenging ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, aimed at ending the ongoing war in Gaza. Egypt has also been crucial in facilitating humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza.
Historically, $320 million of the $1.3 billion in US foreign military financing allocated to Egypt has been subject to human rights-related conditions, leading to partial withholding in recent years. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that he would waive the certification requirement on $225 million due to “US national security interests,” as stated by a State Department spokesperson.
The spokesperson emphasized that the decision supports regional peace efforts, Egypt’s contributions to US security priorities, and ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the Gaza conflict. Despite accusations of human rights abuses under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government, including torture and enforced disappearances, Cairo remains a key ally for Washington.
Blinken had previously issued a similar waiver last year but withheld part of the aid due to Egypt’s insufficient progress on political prisoner releases. This year, however, Egypt’s efforts, including legislative reforms and some prisoner releases, led to the release of $95 million in aid.
Rights groups have expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of Egypt’s reforms, noting that while some prisoners were released, thousands more were arbitrarily arrested. Seth Binder of the Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC) criticized the claimed progress, citing ongoing human rights crises.
The State Department affirmed that it continues to engage with the Egyptian government on improving human rights as part of the US-Egypt partnership.
