The US said on Thursday in Washington that it was sending 10 helicopters and $650m to help Egypt’s counter-terrorism operations.
Spokeswoman for the US State Department, Jen Psaki, said the gesture was part of a move to lift its hold on sending military aid money and equipment to the country.
She said in the near future, $650m would be released to Egypt, adding that the money was separate from the 10 choppers.
The choppers and the $650m are to help Egypt’s counter-terrorism operations in the Sinai, border security and non-proliferation, the US officials said.
Psaki said a key to releasing the $650m would be subjected to congressional approval of documents.
She said the documents would soon be sent to Congress by Secretary of State John Kerry.
Psaki said the documents would confirm if Egypt was upholding its strategic relationship with the US and maintaining its obligations under the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty.
Chuck Hagel, Egypt Secretary of Defence, informed Egypt’s defence minister, Gen. Sedki Sobhy, that US does not yet believe Egypt was supporting a democratic transition.
He said it was not clear if Kerry’s ‘certifications’ meant the US believes Morsi’s ouster was not a coup, nor if the other military equipment would be delivered.
Hagel said the U.S. believes the new helicopters would help the Egyptian government counter extremists who threaten US, Egyptian and Israeli security.
In July 2013, the US put a hold on the delivery of four F-16 fighter jets, M2A1 tanks and Apache helicopters in response to Morsi’s ouster.
The US said then it would keep the lid on military deliveries and funding until it determined if Morsi’s ouster was a coup.
thank you, God fill fight for Nigeria, we will not consent to their gay law, fool & Wicked America that know how to sponsor terrorist attack, dividing the nations most especially when they know they are treat to America, look at what they did to Libya !! our government should wise up.
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