In a public balancing act, the Obama Administration announced on Wednesday that it was suspending some military aid to Egypt but maintained it was “continuing a strong relationship” with the military-backed interim Government.
Three “senior Administration officials” told reporters in a briefing that Washington suspended deliveries of F16 fighter jets, M1A1 tank kits, Harpoon missiles and Apache helicopters.
The aid was held up “pending credible progress toward an inclusive, democratically elected civilian government through free and fair elections”.
The US gives Egypt $1.3 billion in military aid annually.
Senior administration officials told reporters that the decision was a “recalibration” of the “strong relationship”, rather than a fundamental shift.
According to one official, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel informed the Egyptian head of armed forces, General Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, in a 40-minute call:
Hagel emphasized how important the US.-Egypt relationship was to the stability and security for Egypt, but for the United States as well and the broader Middle East….
We are continuing to provide assistance on the issues that advance both our vital security objectives. That includes countering terrorism, countering proliferation, border security, ensuring security in the Sinai, working with peace with Israel, and includes things that include also spare parts, replacement parts, along those lines.
After the July 3 military overthrow of President Morsi, the Obama Administration refused to declare a “coup” — a statement that would have required a full cut-off of military assistance.
Meanwhile, the Government announced that Morsi and 14 others charged with the killings of protesters last December will stand trial on November 4.
