The United States has approved military sales worth more than $5 billion to Egypt, solidifying its partnership with Cairo despite ongoing concerns about human rights violations under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The State Department announced Friday that it had cleared the sale of $4.69 billion worth of equipment for 555 M1A1 Abrams tanks operated by Egypt, alongside $630 million for 2,183 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and $30 million for precision-guided munitions.
According to the State Department, the sale supports US foreign policy and national security goals, describing Egypt as an important strategic partner in the Middle East and a Major Non-NATO Ally.
President Joe Biden entered office in 2021 pledging a tougher stance on Egypt’s human rights record, but his administration has repeatedly approved arms sales to Cairo. The US has long provided significant military aid to Egypt, largely due to its 1979 peace treaty with Israel.
Egypt has also played a pivotal role in mediating conflicts in the Middle East, particularly during the 2023 Gaza crisis, further cementing its strategic importance to Washington.
While Cairo has pardoned hundreds of political prisoners over the past two years, rights groups claim at least three times as many people have been arrested during the same period, keeping international scrutiny on Egypt’s human rights situation.
In addition to the sales to Egypt, the US approved $295 million in equipment for Taiwan, $170 million in bombs and missiles for Morocco, and $130 million in uncrewed aircraft systems and armoured vehicles for Greece.
The Taiwan authorisations follow a $571.3 million military aid package announced by President Biden earlier this week. These moves are likely to heighten tensions with China, which views Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to reclaim it by force if necessary.
The military deals still require congressional approval, though efforts to block such sales rarely succeed.
