US will not restrict any military funding to Egypt

The US State Department announced its decision to provide Egypt with $1.3 billion in foreign military financing assistance, despite ongoing concerns regarding human rights violations under President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi. This funding includes $225 million that is conditioned on human rights improvements, with $95 million specifically tied to progress in releasing political prisoners and ensuring due process. The majority of the funding, amounting to $980 million, is unconditional. The decision to fully fund Egypt is influenced by its role in regional stability, particularly in negotiations related to Gaza and humanitarian efforts in Sudan. The State Department emphasized that Egypt's contributions are vital for advancing U.S. national security priorities, including efforts to finalize a ceasefire in Gaza and facilitate humanitarian assistance for Palestinians. Despite the funding approval, the State Department's latest human rights report indicated no significant improvements in Egypt's human rights situation, highlighting the existence of numerous political prisoners and restricted access for humanitarian groups. The report reflects ongoing concerns about the treatment of detainees and the overall human rights landscape in the country. The spokesperson acknowledged some progress made by Egypt, such as the release of over 950 political prisoners since September 2023 and legislative efforts to reform pre-trial detention laws. However, they reiterated the expectation for further actions to strengthen the bilateral relationship and address human rights issues more effectively.