US downplays impact of Egyptian aid cut

Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday downplayed the impact of cuts in military aid to Egypt following threats of retaliation from that country’s armed services.

Speaking to reporters in Malaysia, Kerry said the United States and the interim Egyptian government shared the same goal of having Egypt “succeed.” He described the administration’s decision to hold back deliveries of tanks and helicopters as “a certain element of the aid which we don’t believe is relevant to the immediate needs of this government in terms of the roadmap or in terms of their security.”

“I think the interim government understands very well our commitment to the success of this government, which we want to see achieve,” Kerry said. “And by no means is this a withdrawal from our relationship or severing of our serious commitment to helping the government meet those goals.”

{mosads}Kerry’s comments follow threats from the Egyptian military to “adjust” bilateral accords with the United States, including the American ships’ special access to the Suez Canal. The administration announced Wednesday it was suspending shipments of tanks, helicopters and missiles and reallocating $260 million in cash assistance to the government, out of a total $1.5 billion in annual aid.

“The U.S. is abandoning Egypt as it fights a serious war against terrorism,” said Egyptian military spokesman Col. Ahmed Ali, according to The Wall Street Journal. “This is a stance that doesn’t coincide with such a strong, long-standing relationship.”

Kerry dismissed the notion that the United States was abandoning Egypt.

“I think that, on the contrary, we’re going to continue,” he said. “We want this government to succeed, but we want it also to be the kind of government that Americans will feel comfortable supporting and being engaged in.”

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