U.S. Shipment of Apache Helicopters to Egypt Moves Forward
After delaying the shipment of Apache helicopters to Egypt last fall in the aftermath of the coup against then-president Mohamed Morsi, both U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel have recently said the United States would move forward on delivering ten Apaches to support Egypt’s counterterrorism efforts in the Sinai. Based on congressional action, however, the United States will continue to postpone the transfer of some past and potentially future U.S. military aid to Egypt until it is clear that Egypt is taking effective steps towards a democratic transition.
Following Morsi’s ouster in July 2013, the United States opted to suspend some military aid citing a need for democratic reform. In October of that year, State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki said, “We will, however, continue to hold the delivery of certain large-scale military systems and cash assistance to the government pending credible progress toward an inclusive, democratically elected civilian government through free and fair elections.” The suspension included previous U.S.-Egypt agreements to provide Apache helicopters, M1 Abrams tanks, Harpoon missiles and $260 million for direct budget support, but excluded aid supporting counterterrorism and Israel-Egypt border security. 
In April 2014, the Obama Administration partially reinstated more aid to Egypt for counterterrorism, including the Apache helicopters. At the same time, U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chairman of the Senate foreign operations appropriations subcommittee, placed a hold on the delivery of the Apaches after 720 men were sentenced to death in a mass trial. Leahy said, “I am extremely disturbed by the Egyptian Government’s flouting of human rights and appalling abuse of the justice system, which are fundamental to any democracy. I am not prepared to sign off on the delivery of additional aid for the Egyptian military until we have a better understanding of how the aid would be used, and we see convincing evidence that the government is committed to the rule of law.”
In mid-June, however, the Senate foreign operations subcommittee approved language in its annual appropriations bill for fiscal year 2015 that conditions future U.S. military aid to Egypt, but lifts restrictions on military aid from previous years, including for the Apaches and other military equipment. Following the passage of the bill, Senator Leahy stated, “Through discussions with Secretary Kerry and others over recent weeks I agreed to the release of the bulk of these funds [military aid to Egypt] for sustainment purposes, but further aid should be withheld until they demonstrate a basic commitment to justice and human rights.” Last year’s approved foreign operations appropriations bill, which placed conditions on U.S. military assistance to Egypt, did not release aid from previous years.
Going beyond the proposed House foreign operations appropriations bill for fiscal year 2015, the Senate’s related appropriations bill reduces U.S. military aid to Egypt to $1 billion, down from $1.3 billion, and the Secretary of State is no longer permitted to initiate any new cash flow financing contracts. The Senate bill also restricts $575 million in U.S. military and economic assistance to Egypt until the Secretary of State certifies that Egypt has done the following: 1) held free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections with a new government that is implementing policies to govern democratically; 2) has released and dismissed charges against American citizens deemed by State to be political prisoners; and 3) is providing access to the Sinai for NGOs, journalists, and officials, among a handful of other conditions. After 180 days of the release of the first $575 million, the Secretary of State must also recertify that all of the above conditions are still being met in order to release a second $575 million to Egypt.
The Sinai Peninsula remains a battleground between the government and Islamist extremists, mainly the group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis. An Egyptian official told reporters in June, “What we have been trying to say for the past couple of months or more, is that there is a dire need for the Apaches for the operation in the Sinai.” Secretary Kerry seemingly shares these sentiments, saying, “We believe the new helicopters are a critical tool that will help the Egyptian government counter those threats,” and described Egypt as a “strategic partner of the United States on key regional issues.”