US to boost Egyptian air defenses despite congressional anger
The Trump administration plans to provide Egypt with excess military equipment even as members of Congress seek sanctions against the country over the death of a US citizen.
The Donald Trump administration has OK’d a deal to supply Egypt with excess air defense units, even as several senators press the White House to sanction Cairo over the recent death of a US citizen.
As part of a recent deal, the United States will send the Egyptian military parts to maintain Chaparral fire units along the nation’s border through a Pentagon program that supplies American partners with excess weapons.
A State Department official told Al-Monitor. that the “transfer will provide the Egyptian military with parts to maintain its existing Chaparral fire units, which are deployed throughout the country in support of border security operations. This will help the Egyptian military maintain its operational capabilities and defend Egypt’s homeland.”
Transferring the tank-like Chaparral units will not adversely impact American military readiness, the official said, or hamper future US sales to Egypt, which receives $1.3 billion in American military aid each year.
