US to decide soon on restoring frozen military aid to Egypt
US Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington will decide "very soon" about a restoration of hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Egypt which was suspended after the military takeover of the country in 2013.
Kerry said Saturday in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, that restoring military aid depends on Cairo’s progress in democratic reforms.
"With respect to aid and assistance, I really expect a decision very soon," Kerry told reporters in response to a question on when Washington planned to release the aid.
The Obama administration suspended more than $700 million of the $1.3 billion in annual American military aid to Egypt after former president Mohamed Morsi's overthrow by the military two years ago.
"The US is committed to strengthening the partnership with Egypt," Kerry said.
The US has provided about $1.5 billion in aid to Egypt annually, including $1.3 billion in military aid, following a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel in 1979.
This makes Egypt the second largest non-NATO recipient of US military aid after Israel.
Egypt has been trying to get F-16 fighter jets, tanks and other military equipment to combat the ISIL terrorist group that is spreading to the Sinai Peninsula and Libya.
AHT/HRJ
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