The United States will maintain its US$1.3 billion military aid and security assistance to Egypt until the end of 2017, provided that the government meets a set of conditions, according to a bill approved by the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday.
“The bill provides economic and security assistance to the Government of Egypt, only if it continues to sustain its strategic partnership with the United States and adheres to the peace treaty with Israel”, the appropriations committee announced, saying that the Department of State, House and Senate approrpations committees will decide on Egypt’s commitment to those requirements.
According to the Fiscal Year 2016 State and Foreign Operations Bill, assistance will be available to Egypt until September 30, 2017, with the State Department submitting reports every 90 days on Egypt’s commitment to a set of requirements, including parliamentary elections, the advancement and protection of the rights of women and religious minorities, the implementation of reforms that protect the freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, as well as the accountability of security forces.
Concerning economic assistance, the bill declared that “up to $150 million may be made available for assistance for Egypt, subject to prior consultation with the appropriate congressional committees and the regular notification procedures.”
The United States had withheld a portion of its annual financial aid to Egypt following the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi and the subsequent violent crackdown on his supporters, which brought tension between the longtime allies. The relations gradually improved again with the US announcing the resumption of aid.
