A top US general emphasized "very robust" military assistance to Egypt as he flew into Cairo on Wednesday in the wake of a decision by President Joe Biden's administration to cut $130 million in military aid to the country over human rights concerns.
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The rare US censure of a geostrategic ally that controls the Suez Canal followed Egypt's failure to address specific human rights-related conditions, which have never been publicly detailed by Washington. Activists have said those US conditions included the release of people seen as political prisoners.
General Frank McKenzie, who as head of US Central Command is the top American military commander in the Middle East region, underscored rights concerns in comments to reporters shortly before landing. McKenzie also stressed that the cut in military assistance announced on Jan. 28 did not represent a large part of the $1.3 billion allocated by the United States for Egypt.
"Compared to the amount of other money that's in play, it's a very small amount. But I think it's intended to be a signal," McKenzie said.
"We still have a very robust weapons program with Egypt and we're still very heavily engaged with them," McKenzie added.
