EGYPT/FOREIGN POLICY/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The Trump administration on Tuesday [8-22-17] denied Egypt $96 million in aid and delayed $195 million in military funding because of concerns over Egypt’s human rights record and its cozy relationship with North Korea.
Analysts said they were surprised by the moves, which followed an Oval Office meeting in April between President Trump and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, during which Mr. Trump lavished praise on the military strongman…
Egypt is among the largest recipients of United States aid. But on Tuesday, the State Department confirmed that it was curtailing its funding to the country because of its lack of progress in human rights and a new law restricting the activities of nongovernmental organizations.
Asked if Egypt’s robust relationship with North Korea played a role in Tuesday’s action, a State Department official would say only that issues of concern have been raised with Cairo, but refused to provide details about the talks.
While Mr. Sisi approved the new law almost two months after his meeting with Mr. Trump, concerns over Egypt’s human rights record and its relationship with North Korea have been percolating for years.
Robert Satloff, the executive director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said the conflicting messages from the Trump administration were surprising.”
-Gardiner Harris and Declan Walsh, “U.S. Slaps Egypt on Human Rights Record and Ties to North Korea,” The New York Times online, Aug. 22, 2017