Due to Cairo’s inability to release an adequate amount of political prisoners, the United States has chosen to withhold $85 million in military aid to Egypt. A US senator on Wednesday urged the US to withhold $235 million more.
The $235 million decision was expected shortly, according to two additional sources with knowledge of the situation, and the $85 million was being held back.
This is according to a report in the American news platform Reuters, which noted that neither the State Department nor the Egyptian embassy immediately responded to requests for comment.
“The administration rightly decided to withhold that first tranche – $85 million tied to the release of political prisoners – because there’s just no question there has not been enough progress,” Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat, said on the Senate floor. “I would urge the administration to finish the job and withhold the full $320 million … until Egypt’s human rights and democracy record improves,” the senator added.
Source: Business Insider