The United States State Department has given approval for the potential sale of over $5 billion in arms to Egypt. This decision comes despite ongoing concerns about human rights violations by the Egyptian government under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
The State Department notified Congress that the sale includes equipment for 555 US-made M1A1 Abrams tanks, as well as Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and precision-guided munitions. The sale is said to support US foreign policy and national security interests by enhancing the security of Egypt, a key non-NATO ally in the Middle East.
While President Joe Biden had promised a tougher stance on Egypt’s human rights record, his administration has still approved multiple arms deals with the country. This latest sale follows previous approvals for aircraft and radar systems.
Despite concerns, the State Department believes that the proposed sale will not disrupt the military balance in the region. Although the US Congress has the authority to block such sales, past attempts to do so have been largely unsuccessful.
Egypt has been a major recipient of US security aid since the peace treaty with Israel in 1979. The country is second only to Israel in terms of aid received.
