US releases military aid to Egypt, cites national security

Washington: President Barack Obama today released military aid to Egypt that was suspended after the 2013 overthrow of the government, in an effort to boost Cairo's ability to combat the extremist threat in the region.

The White House said Obama notified Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in a phone call today that the US would be sending 12 F-16 fighter jets, 20 missiles and up to 125 tank kits, while continuing to request USD 1.3 billion in military assistance for Egypt.

The White House said that would make Egypt will remain the second-largest recipient of US foreign military financing worldwide.

The funds were suspended 21 months ago when el-Sissi, then military chief, overthrew Egypt's first democratically elected leader, Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. But Washington could not provide almost half of the annual aid package along with assistance held up from previous years until it certified advances by el-Sissi's government on democracy, human rights and rule of law or issued a declaration that such aid is in the interests of US national security.

The US has been providing hundreds of millions in counterterrorism assistance to its ally, which didn't stall as a result of the government overthrow. Egypt has been arguing it needs the money to face growing threats from extremists creeping over the border from lawless Libya or operating in the Sinai Peninsula, and the US sees the funds as critical for stability in the volatile Middle East.

The aid comes as Egypt is trying to play a leading role in forming an Arab military alliance that can fight terrorism in the region.