US State Dept gives nod to $5bn in potential arms sales for Egypt
2 days, 19 hours ago

US State Dept gives nod to $5bn in potential arms sales for Egypt

Al Jazeera  

Huge sale likely to go through despite ongoing concerns over Egyptian government’s human rights breaches. The State Department informed Congress on Friday that it had approved the sale of $4.69bn worth of equipment for 555 US-made M1A1 Abrams tanks operated by Egypt, along with $630m in Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and $30m in precision-guided munitions. The deals come despite ongoing concern in Washington over the Egyptian government’s poor human rights record under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Rights group Amnesty estimates that Egypt currently holds about 60,000 political prisoners, including British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, jailed for “spreading false news” after sharing a Facebook post about alleged police brutality. Large US aid recipient US President Joe Biden took office in 2021 pledging a harder line on Egypt over human rights concerns, but his administration has approved several arms deals.

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History of this topic

U.S. cites Egypt’s help in Gaza as Washington sends full military aid despite human rights concerns
3 months, 1 week ago

U.S. cites Egypt’s help in Gaza as Washington sends full military aid despite human rights concerns

LA Times  

The U.S. decision underscores Egypt’s central role as a mediator in the Middle East conflict, despite human rights allegations against the government of President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. “The United States is also continuing a rigorous dialogue with the Egyptian government on the importance of concrete human rights improvements that are crucial to sustaining the strongest possible U.S.-Egypt partnership,” the State …

Biden administration is moving ahead on new $1 billion arms sale to Israel, congressional aides say
7 months, 1 week ago

Biden administration is moving ahead on new $1 billion arms sale to Israel, congressional aides say

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has told key lawmakers it plans to move forward on a new $1 billion sale of arms and ammunition to Israel, three congressional aides say. Rep. Greg Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Wednesday that the package notified to lawmakers this week was in the works for …

Biden administration is moving ahead on new $1-billion arms sale to Israel
7 months, 1 week ago

Biden administration is moving ahead on new $1-billion arms sale to Israel

LA Times  

The Biden administration has told key lawmakers it plans to move forward on a new $1-billion sale of arms and ammunition to Israel, three congressional aides say. Rep. Tom Emmer, the GOP whip, told reporters Wednesday that initiating the process for this round of arms sales “doesn’t make up” for the Biden administration withholding the previously approved sales. In response …

US to withhold $85m military aid to Egypt over political prisoners, rights
1 year, 3 months ago

US to withhold $85m military aid to Egypt over political prisoners, rights

Al Jazeera  

US Senator Chris Murphy calls for additional $235m to be withheld over Egypt’s ‘egregious human rights record’. The United States plans to withhold $85m in military aid to Egypt owing to Cairo’s failure to uphold US conditions on freeing political prisoners and other human rights issues, a US senator said, with some of the withheld funds being redirected to Taiwan. …

Fellow Democrats urge Biden to withhold $320 million in military aid to Egypt over rights abuses
1 year, 4 months ago

Fellow Democrats urge Biden to withhold $320 million in military aid to Egypt over rights abuses

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Nine senior Senate Democrats and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders urged the Biden administration Friday to withhold part of the United States’ annual military aid to Egypt for a third consecutive year, calling it important to keep up the pressure on President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi on human rights abuses. Congress in recent years has made the U.S. payment of roughly …

US lawmakers urge Biden to withhold more military aid to Egypt
1 year, 4 months ago

US lawmakers urge Biden to withhold more military aid to Egypt

Al Jazeera  

US senators call on Biden administration to withhold $320m in aid over Egypt’s ‘deteriorating’ human rights record. A group of 11 US senators has called on the United States to withhold a larger portion of military aid to Egypt, saying the North African country’s human rights record “has continued to deteriorate” over the past year under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. …

Senator's human rights objections block some US aid to Egypt
2 years, 2 months ago

Senator's human rights objections block some US aid to Egypt

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A veteran senator's objections over …

US cancels $130m military aid for Egypt over rights concerns
2 years, 10 months ago

US cancels $130m military aid for Egypt over rights concerns

Al Jazeera  

Decision to cancel aid comes just days after the US approved a massive $2.5bn arms sale to the country. The Biden administration has announced that it is cancelling $130m in military aid to Egypt over human rights concerns, just days after the United States approved a massive $2.5bn arms sale to the country. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in September …

US approves $2.5bn arms sale to Egypt, despite rights concerns
2 years, 10 months ago

US approves $2.5bn arms sale to Egypt, despite rights concerns

Al Jazeera  

The announcement comes as US legislators again call on the Biden administration to withhold military aid to Egypt. United States President Joe Biden’s administration has approved a massive arms sale to Egypt valued at about $2.5bn, despite continued calls for Washington to curtail its support until Cairo improves its human rights record. The deals come despite ongoing concern in Washington …

Biden administration notifies Congress of $650 million arms sale to Saudi Arabia
3 years, 1 month ago

Biden administration notifies Congress of $650 million arms sale to Saudi Arabia

CNN  

Washington CNN — The State Department notified Congress of a new $650 million arms sale to Saudi Arabia today, according to a State Department spokesperson. The sale comes as the Biden administration continues to grapple with the US-Saudi relationship that has been strained in recent years following the murder of US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi and Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the …

Egypt leader, Biden adviser hold talks on regional tensions
3 years, 2 months ago

Egypt leader, Biden adviser hold talks on regional tensions

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy President Joe Biden’s national security adviser held talks Wednesday with …

US military aid to Egypt released despite rights concerns
3 years, 3 months ago

US military aid to Egypt released despite rights concerns

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is releasing nearly $200 million in military aid to Egypt but will hold back millions more over human rights concerns, the State Department said Tuesday in an announcement quickly criticized by rights groups and some lawmakers. “Because we are continuing to discuss our serious concerns about human rights in Egypt, the secretary of state will …

Biden administration approved $735 million arms sale to Israel amid Gaza conflict, report says
3 years, 7 months ago

Biden administration approved $735 million arms sale to Israel amid Gaza conflict, report says

India Today  

US President Joe Biden's administration approved the potential sale of $735 million in precision-guided weapons to Israel, and congressional sources said on Monday that US lawmakers were not expected to object to the deal despite violence between Israel and Palestinian militants. Three congressional aides said Congress was officially notified of the intended commercial sale on May 5, as part of …

US legislators question $735m arms sale to Israel: Report
3 years, 7 months ago

US legislators question $735m arms sale to Israel: Report

Al Jazeera  

Some legislators say most recent US arms sales could be used as leverage on Israel to end violence. Some United States legislators are questioning whether a $735m approved weapons sale to Israel by President Joe Biden’s administration could be used as leverage amid the continuing bombardment of the Gaza Strip, the Washington Post has reported. Some legislators and aides said …

Biden administration to proceed with $23bn arms sales to UAE
3 years, 8 months ago

Biden administration to proceed with $23bn arms sales to UAE

Al Jazeera  

The sale of F-35s, drones and other advanced equipment pushed through by predecessor Donald Trump was being reviewed. The administration of US President Joe Biden has told Congress it is proceeding with more than $23bn in weapons sales to the United Arab Emirates, including advanced F-35 aircraft, armed drones and other equipment, congressional aides said on Tuesday. A State Department …

US sells $200m in weapons to Egypt despite human rights abuses
3 years, 10 months ago

US sells $200m in weapons to Egypt despite human rights abuses

Al Jazeera  

The $197m sale of Raytheon-made Rolling Airframe Missiles was requested by the Egyptian navy to improve coastal defences. The United States approved an arms sale worth nearly $200m to Egypt but vowed to press human rights issues after an American activist reported his family had been harassed. The $197m sale of the Raytheon-made Rolling Airframe Missiles was requested by the …

Trump administration pushing $500m arms sale to Riyadh: Reports
3 years, 11 months ago

Trump administration pushing $500m arms sale to Riyadh: Reports

Al Jazeera  

Critics slam reported munitions deal in final weeks of Donald Trump’s presidency as ‘outrageous’ and a ‘moral outrage’. Donald Trump’s administration plans to authorise the sale of nearly $500m in weapons to Saudi Arabia before the United States president leaves the White House, US media outlets have reported, a move that one expert slammed as “a moral outrage”. Trump also …

US approves $23bn advanced arms sale to UAE: Pompeo
4 years, 1 month ago

US approves $23bn advanced arms sale to UAE: Pompeo

Al Jazeera  

The arms sale, which includes F-35s, flows from the UAE’s agreement to normalise relations with Israel. The US Senate Foreign Relations and House of Representatives Foreign Affairs committees – whose members have criticised UAE’s role in civilian deaths in Yemen’s civil war – review major weapons sales before the State Department sends its formal notification to the legislative branch. Senator …

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