Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, the brand new chairman of the Senate Overseas Relations Committee, vowed Saturday to dam the discharge of $235 million in navy assist to Egypt, a transfer that might power the Biden administration to rethink its choice to prioritize nationwide safety pursuits give to show again. Congress’s considerations concerning the nation’s human rights document.
In an announcement, Mr. Cardin additionally threatened to withhold future navy assist to Egypt except the nation made demonstrable progress on releasing political prisoners, enhancing circumstances for human rights activists and different points.
“I consider it’s crucial that we proceed to carry the federal government of Egypt, and all governments, accountable for his or her human rights violations,” Mr. Cardin mentioned. “I intend to completely train the oversight tasks of the Fee and my authorities to dam future international navy funds and arms gross sales to the Egyptian authorities if it doesn’t take concrete, significant and sustainable steps to enhance human rights circumstances on this nation.” to enhance the scenario. nation.”
Cardin’s transfer comes simply days after he took over the chairmanship of the international relations panel from Senator Robert Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, who was indicted final week on fees of accepting bribes to cowl the sale of navy gear to Egypt to facilitate and assist an Egyptian. American with shut ties to the federal government in Cairo together with his halal meat certification firm.
These allegations have elevated strain on lawmakers, particularly Democrats, to distance themselves from Mr. Menendez and demand that Egypt meet congressionally mandated human rights standards earlier than transferring navy assist .
Mr. Menendez, who resigned from the fee chairmanship, has maintained his innocence.
Mr. Cardin instructed reporters this week that as president he would “be certain that our international coverage is wrapped in our values: democracy, human rights, anti-corruption, transparency and accountability.”
However the choice to double down on that pledge on navy assist to Egypt put him in direct battle with the Biden administration.
State Division officers beforehand determined that the safety relationship between Cairo and Washington was too necessary to jeopardize by withholding $235 million in navy assist, and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken pushed in different boards exercised strain on the Egyptian authorities on human rights points.
On Friday, Consultant Gregory W. Meeks, Democrat of New York and rating member of the Overseas Affairs Committee, known as on the State Division to “droop some U.S. navy financing to Egypt that’s conditional on human rights standards.” arguing that Congress “wanted extra readability” on how these considerations have been addressed.
Republican leaders of the Senate and Home Overseas Affairs committees haven’t publicly objected.
For many years, the State Division has scrutinized leaders of the Senate and Home of Representatives overseeing international affairs after they objected to arms transfers to international governments, though the Trump administration thought of ending that follow and used her emergency powers to outmaneuver Congress in 2019.
Egypt has been one of many largest recipients of US navy assist since signing a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, and at present receives roughly $1.3 billion per yr in international navy financing. A few of that help, nonetheless, is contingent on Egypt making enhancements on human rights, though Congress provides the federal government a waiver that can be utilized to satisfy these calls for.
Within the funds cycle that ends Saturday night time, $320 million in Egyptian navy assist ought to be tied to the federal government’s progress on the economic system. human rights, however the Biden administration determined to withhold solely $85 million.
Two weeks in the past, the administration introduced that the remaining $235 million could be awarded to Egypt, much like selections in earlier years to waive congressional provisions and supply Egypt with assist that needed to be tied to its human rights efficiency.
State Division officers declined to say how the company would reply to Mr. Cardin’s announcement. A spokesman mentioned officers continued to carry talks with Congress about how Egypt may get the navy assist that Mr. Cardin had sought to dam, whereas making certain Cairo makes progress on human rights.
Edward Wong contributed to this report.
