Obama Lifts Freeze on Egyptian Weapon Sales
By Aaron Mehta 4:27 p.m. EDT March 31, 2015
http://www.defensenews.com/story/breaking-news/2015/03/31/white-house-lifts-freeze-on-egyptian-weapon-sales/70718296/

WASHINGTON — The White House lifted an executive hold on weapon sales to
Egypt Tuesday, as part of a broader attempt to "modernize" the military
relationship between the two countries.

President Obama informed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of the
change in the administration's posture, according to a White House notice.
The loosening of restrictions comes just days after Egypt began bombing
operations against militants in Yemen.

Since a military coup in October 2013, the White House has frozen military
sales to Egypt in hopes it would force democratic reforms in the nation,
which has been in turmoil since the 2011 "Arab Spring" protests swept
longtime President Hosni Mubarak out of power.

In a statement announcing the change, National Security Council spokeswoman
Bernadette Meehan noted that the administration has been tracking the Egypt
situation since that 2013 freeze went into effect.

"Now that the process has been completed, the Administration will use the
flexibility provided by Congress in legislation this fiscal year to provide
additional military assistance to Egypt," Meehan wrote. "The Administration
will not make the so-called 'democracy certification' in that legislation."

There are both immediate and long-term impacts of the change in posture. In
the short term, the US will clear the sale of 12 F-16 aircraft, 20 Harpoon
missiles and up to 125 M1A1 Abrams tank kits, which had been held up. Obama
has also pledged $1.3 billion in foreign military financing (FMF) for Egypt.

That is good news for both an Egyptian military that has been awaiting
upgraded equipment, and US industry, which has been waiting for the pipeline
to one of its most reliable foreign customers to reopen.

Longer term, the Obama administration hopes to "modernize" its relationship
with Egypt. Starting in 2018, the US will discontinue the use of cash flow
financing for Egypt, which has allowed the nation to purchase US gear on
credit.

Also in 2018, the FMF funding for Egypt will be targeted to four specific
categories – counterterrorism, border security, maritime security and Sinai
security – as well as sustainment for existing weapons. Although not stated
in the news release, guiding how FMF dollars are used will allow the US to
help shape Egypt's military strategies.

Those changes, Meehan wrote, will "create a U.S.-Egyptian military
assistance relationship that is better positioned to address the security
challenges of the 21st century, including the growth of an ISIL-affiliated
group in Egypt that has launched devastating attacks on Egyptian soldiers
and civilians in the Sinai, and to advance the military assistance
relationship in support of U.S. national security interests."

In a statement, House Armed Services Committee chairman Rep. Mac Thornberry,
R-TX., praised the decision.

"We encourage the government of Egypt to continue its democratic process,"
Thornberry said. "But Egypt is also a strong regional ally. Maintaining that
relationship must be a priority for the U.S. Providing them with the means
to protect Egyptians and Americans from the threat of terrorism is the right
thing to do."

Email: amehta@defensenews.com

Twitter: @AaronMehta