US LIFTS HUMAN-RIGHTS CONDITIONS ON $320 MILLION EGYPT MILITARY AID PACKAGE
October 1, 2026
The United States has waived human-rights and democracy-related conditions attached to $320 million in military assistance for Egypt, citing Cairo’s role in supporting American national-security interests following the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved the waiver for the Foreign Military Financing allocated to Egypt for fiscal year 2025. The decision was communicated to congressional committees in a letter dated September 21.
The accompanying justification said the funds were considered important for counterterrorism, border security and non-proliferation programmes, as well as broader US national-security priorities. It specifically referred to what Washington described as Egypt’s “helpful role” following the launch of Operation Epic Fury, the US military campaign against Iran conducted alongside Israel.
The memorandum did not provide detailed information about the precise nature of Egypt’s contribution. Egypt has traditionally been an important US security partner in the Middle East and has received roughly $1.3 billion annually in American military assistance since the late 1980s.
The latest decision comes against a background of recurring disagreements between Washington and Cairo over human rights. Previous US administrations have withheld portions of Egypt’s military assistance over concerns about the country’s human-rights record, although Washington has also repeatedly waived such conditions when strategic considerations were judged to take priority.
The conflict with Iran has also placed additional economic pressure on Egypt, particularly through higher fuel prices and wider regional disruptions. Cairo has previously played a significant role in negotiations over conflicts involving Israel and Gaza, although its role in the Iran conflict has been less publicly defined.
The decision to release the $320 million therefore underscores the continuing strategic importance of the US-Egypt relationship, while leaving Washington’s human-rights concerns and the conditions attached to future military assistance as continuing areas of discussion.
