Egypt is a priority for US president: CNN

CAIRO - 23 August 2017: In light of the recent U.S. decision to reduce $290 million of aid allocated to Egypt, CNN published a report stressing that Egypt is “central to Middle East peace efforts and is a priority for the President.”

The report noted that Egypt plays a pivotal role in “resolving an ongoing dispute between Washington's Gulf allies,” which poses concern for U.S. officials who worry that this could “hamper the fight against ISIS.” Egypt also controls the Suez Canal, which is a vital route for the U.S. Navy to the Persian Gulf.

Washington’s decision to reduce $100 million of the aid program and postponing $195 million of the military aid comes as Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump and his senior advisor, visits Egypt on Wednesday as part of his tour of the Middle East, focusing on Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts and resolving the conflict between Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain.

CNN pointed out that the decision reflects another remarkable shift in Trump's position on foreign policy, given that his administration made it clear that human rights would not have priority over economic or strategic interests. However, the U.S. State Department linked its decision with the NGO law that was issued recently in Egypt, which it considered restrictive.

A senior U.S. official confirmed that, despite Tillerson's sudden decision, strengthening security cooperation with Egypt remains important for U.S. national security, adding that Washington will continue to support Egypt in defeating extremism, fighting terrorism and strengthening its economy.

The American network viewed that the Trump administration was looking to balance the recognition of Egypt's importance as a strategic partner and its rejection of the NGO law.

On Tuesday evening, the U.S. decided to reduce $290 million of aid allocated to Egypt, justifying the decision by stating that Egypt has failed to progress in the field of human rights, referring to the recently approved non-governmental organization (NGO) law, which restricts civil society, media outlets reported.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement expressing that Egypt regrets the decision by the United States to reduce some of the funds allocated under the U.S. assistance program to Cairo, considering the decision as a “misjudgment” that could have negative implications on common interests and reflects the lack of understanding of the importance of supporting the stability and success of Egypt.

The statement also said that it underestimates the size of economic and security challenges facing the Egyptian people, and implies a mixing of cards that may have negative repercussions on achieving Egyptian-American interests.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry received Wednesday a U.S. delegation headed by senior White House adviser Jared Kushner to discuss ways to support regional peace process, according to a ministry statement.

This is not the first time the U.S. has made a decision regarding the aid due to internal affairs, as in 2013, former U.S. President Barak Obama suspended military and economic assistance to the Egyptian government in rejection to the ouster of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi, and later reissued it in 2015.