Two sources familiar with the matter, including a US official, said the Biden administration would withhold $130 million in military aid to Egypt to pressure the Arab ally to improve its human rights record.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s planned move is a break with his predecessors’ policy of overriding congressional investigations on military aid to Egypt. In the past, an exception was made for the government of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to free up $300 million in foreign military funding, on the argument that it was in the interest of US national security.
But a portion of the financing, $130 million, will now be withheld over human rights concerns but will be available in future fiscal years if Egypt improves its record, the official said on condition of anonymity.
Sources said an announcement could be made later this week.
A State Department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Politico reported the move late Monday.
More than a dozen rights groups told Blinken in a letter in April that if he refused to release the funds “the United States would send a clear message that it was serious about its commitment to supporting human rights overseas.” “
Sisi, who ousted the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013, has overseen strong crackdowns against dissent in recent years. He denies there are political prisoners in Egypt and says stability and security are paramount.
President Joe Biden has promised to put human rights at the center of his foreign policy and rights advocates are pushing Washington to be tough on CC, even as relations with Egypt improved after Cairo’s mediating role to help end hostilities between Israel and Israel in April. Hamas terrorists.