WASHINGTON: The Biden government will hold the $ 130 million military assistance to Egypt to suppress the Arabic allies to increase human rights records, two sources familiar with the problem, including a US official, said.
Foreign Minister Antony Blinken will be a break with its predecessor policy overriding Congress checks on military assistance to Egypt.
In the past, exceptions were given to release $ 300 million foreign military financing for the government of Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on the basis that it was US national security interests.
Some of the financing, $ 130 million, will be detained on human rights issues but will be available in the fiscal year in the future if Egypt increases the record, the official said, who spoke with anonymous requirements.
Human rights groups, who have requested administration to hold all the amounts, referring to the steps of “betrayal” of the US commitment to place the front and center of human rights in foreign policy, and especially with Egypt.
“If administrative dedication to human rights is sincere, this decision will be simple: hold $ 300 million in military assistance as conditioned by Congress to provide al-sided incentives to change the course,” said a joint statement from nearly two dozen rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
“In contrast, the administration chooses to ignore its commitment to human rights by avoiding legislative conditions,” he added.
The side, which overthrew the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013, had oversee the crackdown about the differences of opinion that had been tightened in recent years.
He denied political prisoners in Egypt and said stability and security were the most important.
President Joe Biden has promised to place human rights in the heart of foreign policy and his right advocate has encouraged Washington to become harder on the side, even though the relationship with Egypt has improved after Cairo’s mediation to help end hostility in April between Israel and Hamas militant.
Criticism from the rights group of Biden’s commitment to promote rights and freedom throughout the world is not limited to Egypt.
They said while the increase in emphasis on this problem was an increase in the position of its predecessor Donald Trump – who praised authoritarian leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin – Biden has so far refrained from impacting action.
The source said the formal announcement about Egypt’s decision could come this weekend.
Foreign department spokesman did not immediately respond to a comment request.
Politico reported moving on Monday.