The US on Thursday has officially approved a potential sale of a surface-to-air missile system to Egypt. The deal is being pegged at $4.7 billion.
The US State Department announced that it had notified Congress about the arms sale. If approved, the US will provide Egypt with hundreds of Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radar systems, and dozens of tactical guidance units.
In a statement, the State Department said that the proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States.
The statement further emphasized that the deal aims to improve the security of a major non-NATO ally, describing Egypt as a force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.
State Department in a statement said that the deal includes 100 extended-range Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), 100 Air Intercept Missile (AIM)-120C-8 AMRAAMs, two AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM guidance sections, 600 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles, 150 AIM-9X Sidewinder Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs), 62 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical guidance units (GUs), and 20 AIM-9X Sidewinder CATM GUs, according to the press release.
The statement further stated that missile containers weapon system support and test equipment; spare and repair parts, consumables, accessories, and repair and return support; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment.
As part of the agreement, around 26 US government representatives and 34 contractors will travel to Egypt to provide technical and logistical support.
The deal represents a significant boost to Egypt’s air defense capabilities, and comes just months after Iran targeted a US military base in Qatar. Tehran was retaliating to US bombings of Iranian nuclear facilities.
With the Israel-Iran relations still tense, and the possibility of a flare-up, US fears it could be dragged into another conflict in the Middle East. The air defence systems would safeguard US military assets in Egypt.
Notably, the Trump administration’s sale of extended-range AIM-120C missiles to Egypt marks a significant shift from the approach taken by his predecessor Joe Biden.
The Biden administration had previously halted the sale of what it termed "offensive" weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. He also withheld a portion of Egypt's annual military aid due to concerns over human rights violations.
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Human rights organizations have accused the Egyptian government under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of widespread political repression.
The el-Sisi administration has been criticized for using brute force against dissenting voices. Reports suggest thousands of individuals have been imprisoned on what are described as trumped-up terrorism charges. The Sisi government has denied all such accusations.
The massive defense deal comes after President Trump said his administration would re-engage, diplomatically, with both Egypt and Ethiopia.
Egypt and Ethiopia have long-standing disputes over the use of Nile River waters. Egypt has protested Ethiopia’s construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, calling it an existential threat. The river fulfills 97 percent of Egypt's water needs. Coming back to the US-Egypt military deal, it isn't the first under Trump 2.0, or the biggest.
US policy shift in Middle East
In May of this year, Trump signed a series of major defense agreements with Arab nations. The $142 billion deal for “state-of-the-art” military sales to Saudi Arabia was the largest ever.
Experts suggest that the Trump administration is revamping its Middle East policy largely to counter China's growing influence in the region.
China and Egypt conducted a joint military exercise titled “Eagles of Civilization 2025” from April 19 to May 4. The drill marked the first-ever military exercise between the two countries, and stirred concern in Washington.
Earlier this year, Egypt's state-controlled Daily News claimed the country had acquired Chinese J-10C fighter jets.
Though Chinese officials later denied the sale, the reports put the spotlight on Egypt's long-standing request for F-15 fighter jets and longer-range missiles.
These are military assets that Washington gave Saudi Arabia and Israel decades ago.
Though US is yet to make any commitments on F-15 jets, the $4.7 billion defence package suggests US intends to keep its allies close to prevent a pro-China shift in the Middle East.
