Obama cancels joint military training with Egypt

US President Barack Obama announced on Thursday that the United States would cancel the joint Bright Star military training with Egypt meant to take place next month, in response to the violent dispersion of pro-Morsi sit-ins yesterday.

“While we want to sustain our relationship with Egypt, our traditional cooperation cannot continue as usual,” the president said in a televised statement.

The US deplores violence against Egyptian citizens, and the Egyptian people deserve better, Obama continued, calling the events “tragic.” He reiterated that force is not a way to produce political change.

After former President Mohamed Morsi’s forcible removal from office by the military on July 3, Obama said that the US was deeply concerned, and that the relevant departments were studying how the events could affect US aid to Egypt.

He stopped short of calling Morsi’s ouster a coup, which under US law would necessitate that America halt the US$1.3 billion in military aid that it gives to Egypt every year.

The Obama administration has maintained a cooperative relationship with Egypt’s Armed Forces and interim government since Morsi's fall, and has recently adopted a milder tone in regards to the events of July 3, saying that the Brotherhood was not committed to real democracy in Egypt.

Yesterday, Secretary of State John Kerry condemned Wednesday’s violence, saying that the state’s deadly crackdown on the Rabea al-Adaweya and Nahda sit-ins that left hundreds dead was deplorable, and ran counter to Egyptian aspirations for peace and genuine democracy.