US suspends rights condition on Egypt military aid package

The State Department has exercised a waiver provision to bypass the certification requirement for USD320 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) designated for Egypt in FY2025, according to an announcement by the Secretary of State.

The move allows the military assistance to proceed without requiring the customary certification that recipient countries meet specified human rights and governance standards. Such waivers are permitted under US law but remain subject to congressional notification.

Egypt is among the largest recipients of US military assistance in the Middle East region, receiving billions of dollars annually as part of longstanding defence cooperation arrangements. The financing typically supports modernisation of military capabilities and equipment procurement.

The decision underscores the strategic importance Washington places on its military relationship with Cairo, particularly given Egypt's role in regional security dynamics and its control of the Suez Canal. However, human rights organisations have long raised concerns about detention practices and freedoms of expression in the country.

The waiver comes amid broader US engagement with regional security partners across the Middle East and reflects shifting priorities in American foreign policy toward counterterrorism and strategic partnerships in the area.