The US administration is continuing its cat-and-mouse game with the Egyptian army, a further sign of strained relations between the US and Egypt since the ousting of former president Mohamed Morsi in 2013. Earlier this week, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the US will resume delivery of military equipment to Egypt, including 10 Apache helicopters. The official statement read: “Kerry told his Egyptian counterpart that the United States intends to make good on its promise to deliver 10 Apache helicopters to help Cairo's counterterrorism efforts.” The assurance was given as part of ongoing discussions on the Gaza ceasefire, the fight against Islamic State jihadists in Iraq and Syria, and regional counterterrorism efforts, the statement said, adding, “The secretary reaffirmed the United States' support for the helpful role that Egypt played in reaching the ceasefire in Gaza. He also discussed Egypt's efforts in countering threats from extremist groups, particularly in Sinai.” The US gives Egypt $1.5 billion in aid each year, including $1.3 billion in military assistance as part of the assurances given by the US to both Egypt and Israel to maintain the peace treaty signed in 1979. However, the aid was frozen last year in the wake of US demands for democratic reforms in Egypt. In October the US congress suspended part of its aid pending democratic reforms, but in January it restored the $1.3 billion in military aid. In April, as the then-defence minister, Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi headed to Moscow for talks, Washington said it planned to resume some of its annual aid for counterterrorism efforts in the Sinai. A spokesman for the US Defence Department said helicopters would be sent to help Egypt quell a wave of militancy in the Sinai desert. When Al-Sisi took office as president in June, Kerry announced that he was “confident” Egypt would receive the helicopter gunships soon and added that the US had unlocked $575 million in military assistance to Egypt. At a press conference in Cairo with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukri, Kerry said, “I am confident that we will be able to ultimately get the full amount of aid.” He added that he was also “confident that the Apaches will come and that they will come very, very soon.” But the 10 Apaches have still not arrived. Earlier this week, Kerry was quoted by the US Embassy's acting spokesman, Walter Parrs, as saying, “We believe the new helicopters are a critical tool that will help the Egyptian government counter threats.” He added that Egypt is a “strategic partner of the United States on key regional issues.” A few hours before the statement, Egyptian Defence Minister Sedki Sobhi met with a US Congressional delegation in Cairo. On Sunday, however, the country's armed forces denied having taken delivery of the Apaches. Kerry and US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel announced their release on April 23, but the helicopters are still in Texas because of US fears that they may be used against civilians. “I am not prepared to sign off on the delivery of additional aid for the Egyptian military until we have a better understanding of how the aid would be used,” US Senator Patrick Leahy said on 29 April. Leahy is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Panel on State and Foreign Aid and one of those holding up the delivery of the helicopters. In fact, the equipment was provided under a 2009 agreement with Egypt to fight militants in the Sinai desert. In May 2009, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible military sale to Egypt of 12 AH-64D Block II Apache Longbow helicopters and associated equipment, parts, training and support for an estimated cost of $820 million. Also included were composite horizontal stabilisers, integrated helmet and display sight systems, repair and return, transportation, depot maintenance, spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, US government and contractor technical support, and other related elements. The agency justified the provision of the helicopters by saying the equipment is vital for Egypt to be able to defend its borders. “The proposed sale will provide for the defence of vital installations and will provide close air support for the military ground forces,” it said. “The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country which has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.” According to Mahmoud Khalaf, a consultant at the Nasser Military Academy in Cairo, however, “The Obama administration has had no difficulty in twisting justifications by an official agency and suspending the delivery of the helicopters with the aim of putting pressure on the Egyptian military, which has held the country together over the past three years.” Khalaf said that the US would hold to its promise to deliver the equipment despite the panic in the White House. “The US congress has commitments to include military aid to Egypt as basic components of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel,” Khalaf explained. “It is all the more likely to honour these commitments now that the situation in Iraq is deteriorating due to terrorist activities.” The attitude of the Obama administration is viewed by some military experts as influenced by the Cold War-style confrontation between the US and Russia. According to retired Major-General Mohamed Gamal Mazloum, the US wants to maintain strong relations with Egypt as the country is a key player in the Middle East and needs to be kept out of the hands of Russia. President Al-Sisi visited Russia last month where he discussed military cooperation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This was Al-Sisi's second trip to Russia and second meeting with Putin. The first trip was in March, when Al-Sisi was defence minister. “The Egyptian and Russian decision to revive the strong military cooperation between the two countries represents a headache for the Americans, making them reconsider their decision to suspend military cooperation with the Egyptian army,” said Mazloum. On Sunday, the head of the Egyptian air force headed to Moscow to resume negotiations over long-awaited arms deals, including S-500 missile batteries. “The visit was officially announced in a way that appeared to be deliberately intended to send a message to US decision-makers, among them the White House, the Pentagon and the Congress,” he added.
