Washington — The Biden administration has restored a substantial portion of U.S. military aid to Egypt, a decision that has drawn criticism from human rights advocates who argue that it rewards authoritarian behavior despite the country’s poor record on political freedoms and civil liberties.
The move unlocks hundreds of millions of dollars in annual security assistance that had been partially withheld in recent years due to concerns over Egypt’s treatment of political prisoners, restrictions on free speech, and crackdowns on dissent. U.S. officials justified the decision as necessary to maintain cooperation with a key regional ally on counterterrorism and stability in the Middle East.
Egypt remains one of the largest recipients of American military aid, receiving roughly $1.3 billion annually. While a portion of that assistance had been conditioned on human rights improvements, the latest decision signals a return to a more traditional security-based approach in Washington’s dealings with Cairo.
Rights groups condemned the move, saying it undermines U.S. credibility on democracy promotion. “This sends a clear message that human rights are negotiable when security interests are at stake,” said one leading advocate. Organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented widespread abuses under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s government, including mass detentions, censorship, and the targeting of opposition figures.
Administration officials defended the decision, noting that Egypt plays an essential role in regional diplomacy, including mediation between Israel and Palestinian factions. They also emphasized that a smaller portion of the aid remains frozen as a signal of continuing concern over human rights.
The balancing act reflects a familiar tension in U.S. foreign policy: reconciling strategic partnerships with stated democratic values. For Egypt, the restored funding reinforces its position as a cornerstone of U.S. security policy in the Middle East. For Washington, it renews a long-running debate over whether maintaining influence justifies overlooking repression.
As one analyst put it, “The United States keeps trying to walk a line between principle and pragmatism — and with Egypt, that line has never been easy to hold.”
