WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama called his Egyptian counterpart on Tuesday, discussed with him the situation in Libya and Yemen and offered to lift a hold on US military assistance to the country.

Egypt is supporting a Saudi-led alliance, which aims to prevent the Houthi militias from taking over the country. Egypt also backs US plans for preventing a militant takeover in Libya.

“President Obama spoke with Egyptian President Abdelfattah Al Sisi today regarding the US-Egyptian military assistance relationship and regional developments, including in Libya and Yemen,” said a White House statement.

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President Obama informed President Al Sisi that “he will lift executive holds that have been in place since October 2013 on the delivery of F-16 aircraft, Harpoon missiles, and M1A1 tank kits,” the statement added.

Mr Obama also informed President Al Sisi that he would continue to request an annual $1.3 billion in military assistance for Egypt.

Beginning in fiscal year 2018, the US will channel its security assistance for Egypt to four categories – counter-terrorism, border security Sinai security, and maritime security.

The US will also continue to provide assistance for the sustainment of weapons systems already in Egypt’s arsenal.

The president explained that these and other steps would help refine US-Egypt military assistance relationship to make it better positioned to address the shared challenges to their bilateral interests in an unstable region, consistent with the longstanding strategic partnership between the two countries, the White House said.

President Obama also reiterated US concerns about Egypt’s continued imprisonment of non-violent activists and mass trials. He encouraged increased respect for freedom of speech and assembly and emphasised that these issues remained a focus for the United States.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2015

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