US reconsiders canceling of military aid

White House officials confirmed Tuesday that the American Senate is discussing plans to loosen restrictions on US aid to Egypt, one day following the release of the omnibus spending bill for the remainder of the fiscal year 2014.

The news coincided with the first day of voting on the Egyptian constitutional referendum, which Egyptian authorities claim is the first step of the roadmap to establishing a democratic state, announced early in July, 2013.

The aid program was frozen following the toppling of former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi. A US law prevents the funding of a foreign military that has conducted a coup against a democratically elected government.

On a visit to Egypt in early November 2013, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the suspension of aid to Egypt was “not a punishment.”

“The United States believes that the US-Egypt partnership is going to be strongest when Egypt is represented by an inclusive, democratically-elected, civilian government based on the rule of law, fundamental freedoms, and an open and competitive economy,” Kerry said in a press conference during his visit.

Yet, the US continued to express concern over the Egyptian state’s crack down on Muslim Brotherhood members since Morsi’s ouster, and the long-standing alliance between the two nations led to a prolonged period of dwelling over calling the ouster of Morsi a “coup.”

The Daily Beast criticized the Unites States’ “clumsy and incoherent policy on Egypt,” maintaining the Obama administration has been pushed to reconsider the withdrawal of US aid.  

Still, a final decision has not been made. The Daily Beast quoted conditions in the bill that have to be met before it is passed, including certification by the US president (Obama) that Egypt is “sustaining its strategic relationship with the United States,” and “meeting its obligations under the 1979 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty.” Secretary of State John Kerry would also have to certify, “that a newly elected Government of Egypt is taking steps to govern democratically and implement economic reforms.”

Kerry would have to submit a comprehensive, multi-year strategic review of military assistance to Egypt and report back to Congress on the trials of former Egyptian leaders such as Morsi, The Beast reported.

If the bill is approved, the US would be permitted to give the Egyptian government US$250 million in economic support. Also, the Egyptian military could be granted $1.3 billion in two installments: $975 million after Egypt holds its constitutional referendum and a further $576.8 million after presidential and parliamentary elections.