The Obama administration has cut off most military assistance to Egypt, a move that effectively blocks the shipment of major weapons systems already in procurement for the country.
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| Lockheed Martin F-16s. |
The State Department released a statement on Wednesday announcing the withholding of most military assistance, and said it will remain in effect until the military, which has run the country since ousting President Mohamed Morsi in July, demonstrates progress in transitioning back to civilian and democratic rule.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Washington will “continue to hold the delivery of certain large-scale military systems and cash assistance to the government pending credible progress toward an inclusive, democratically elected civilian government through free and fair elections.”
A State Department official said the main programs being held up under the aid suspension are Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-16 fighter jets, Boeing [BA] AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, and M1A1 tank kits that are co-produced with General Dynamics [GD].
The United States provides Egypt with $1.5 billion in annual aid, most of it for the military. Psaki said some of the military assistance will continue for military parts and training, as well as border security, counterterrorism, and security in Sinai. She did not provide an exact figure for the amount being withheld.
In 2009, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced a $3.2 billion arrangement with Egypt for 24 F-16s, and an $820 million one for 12 Apaches. The M1A1 tanks kits were outlined in 2011 and involved $1.3 billion. It was not clear how many of each system had been delivered prior to Wednesday’s announcement.