US Senator Blocks Egypt Military Aid

Facts

• US Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), who replaced Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, announced on Tuesday that the US would hold back $235M in military financing to Egypt.¹
• This comes after Menendez left the role following allegations that he accepted bribes as part of a 'corrupt relationship' with the Egyptian government.²
• Cardin said in a statement that the Egyptian government's 'record on a range of critical human rights issues, good governance, and the rule of law must improve if our bilateral relationship is to be sustained.' He added that it is 'imperative' to hold Egypt, and all other governments, accountable for their record on human rights.³
• Cardin did make clear that the two countries share strategic, long-standing interests and that Egypt's stability is important to American national security interests but called for reforming its detention practices, the release of political prisoners, and providing space for human rights defenders, civil society advocates, political opposition, and independent media in Egypt.¹
• Both Menendez and his wife have pleaded not guilty to bribery charges, with businessmen Fred Daibes, Wael 'Will' Hana, and Jose Uribe also being charged.⁴

Sources: ¹The hill, ²Al Jazeera, ³The new arab and ⁴BBC News.

Narratives

• Democratic narrative, as provided by New jersey monitor. For a decade, Egypt has seen a backslide in human rights, and Congress has an obligation to investigate the country's human rights offenses before it forks over $300M. There's no doubt that the allegations against Sen. Menendez are substantial, but the issue of withholding aid extends far beyond one politician.
• Republican narrative, as provided by National review. While Democrats are trying to make Menendez's corruption story about Egypt, the focus must remain on the Democratic senator's clear violation of ethics and traitorous behavior. Not only did Menendez seemingly accept bribes from a foreign country, but he also essentially acted as an agent of the Egyptian government.
• Narrative C, as provided by Responsible statecraft. While standing up for human rights should continue to be prioritized, so must Washington's strategic interests. The money sent to Egypt largely benefits US national security, such as fighting against terrorism in the shipping lanes of the Suez Canal. Rather than withholding aid — which hasn't had any noticeable effect on Egypt's human rights record — a better approach would be to maintain high levels of diplomacy.