US agrees to sell $ 2.5bn worth of arms to Egypt, despite concerns | Issues of Human Rights

The announcement comes as US lawmakers have again asked Biden officials not to provide military assistance to Egypt.

The government of the United States President Joe Biden has agreed to sell most of Egypt’s weapons worth about $ 2.5bn, despite continuing to call on Washington to reduce its aid until Cairo cuts off its human rights record.

Possible sales, which have not been completed, include 12 Super Hercules C-130 aircraft carriers with equivalent equipment of $ 2.2bn, and aircraft radar protection systems costing approximately $ 355m.

The U.S. Department of State said the Defense Security Cooperation Agency had notified Congress of what it could sell Tuesday.

Tuesday’s announcement came just hours after Democrats urged government officials not to release a very small package military assistance that was not delayed last year while waiting for the Egyptian government to achieve some independence.

The recent sale was not related to a previously hidden military service, the State Department said.

“The transaction will complement U.S. foreign policy and security initiatives in helping to improve the security of the non-NATO nation which continues to be a key ally in the Middle East,” the State Department said Tuesday. .

“We maintain a strong relationship with Egypt, and the interests of the United States will be further enhanced, through continued action by the US to improve the security of our country, including addressing our human rights concerns,” it added.

Despite approval by the State Department, notice in Congress does not indicate that the agreement has been signed or that negotiations have ended.

The agreement comes amid complaints in Washington over the Egyptian government a negative history of human rights Led by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, human rights groups estimate that Egypt currently has about 60,000. political prisoners.

The Biden government has pledged to adhere to foreign principles guided by human rights, including the acquisition of a hard line and El Sisi. However, it has avoided a major overhaul of US weapons and trade in Egypt, which it sees as a a major ally in the region.

In the 2022 fiscal year, which began on October 1, 2021, Biden officials provided $ 1.4bn in aid of the two countries in Cairo, much of it military-related. The amount is the same as last year.

However, in September 2021, the State Department suspended $ 130m for military aid provided to Egypt, citing the country’s poor human rights record. Cairo is said to have been given a deadline of January 30 to signal a change.

The existing budget was approaching $ 300m. Congress annually seeks to ban it on the grounds of human rights.

In a letter Tuesday, Democrats said that despite the recent release of several high-profile prisoners, including Italian investigator Patrick Zaki, Palestinian-Egyptian freedom fighter Ramy Shaath, and Ola Qaradawi, a prominent Scholar Muslim daughter, el-Sisi state silinatero. he went to great lengths to end the violence.

“Tens of thousands of political prisoners … remain in Egyptian prisons,” Don Beyer and Tom Malinowski, chair of the Egypt Human Rights Caucus, said in a statement.

“The Egyptian government continues to harass, oppress, and oppress American citizens and the families of dissidents living in the United States,” he added.