Cairo has reportedly balked at requests to ship weapons to Kiev because it seeks to keep up neutrality on the battle with Russia
Egyptian officers have reportedly determined to not become involved in arming Ukraine, shrugging off repeated US requests in current months to supply artillery shells and different weapons wanted for Kiev’s counteroffensive in opposition to Russian forces within the Donbass area.
Washington requested Egypt to produce artillery, antitank missiles, air protection methods and small arms for Ukraine, the Wall Road Journal reported on Friday, citing unidentified US officers. The requests have been made on a number of events, together with a March assembly between US Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo.
“In conversations with US officers, Egypt hasn’t definitively rejected the requests, however Egyptian officers stated privately that Egypt has no plans to ship the weapons,” the newspaper stated.
That message apparently hasn’t gotten by means of to Washington. A US State Division official expressed optimism on getting Egypt to again Ukraine, telling the media outlet that “our discussions with our Egyptian companions on our mutual curiosity in ending Russa’s warfare are productive and ongoing.”
Earlier this yr, Cairo reportedly backed down below US strain from an alleged plan to promote rockets to Russia. Al-Sisi has tried to keep up good relations with each Washington and Moscow amid the Ukraine disaster, declining to hitch within the US-led marketing campaign to arm Ukraine and punish Russia.
The WSJ famous that the failure to enlist Egypt within the effort comes at a “vital second” within the battle, through which Ukrainian forces try to push by means of Russia’s formidable defensive traces because the US tries to rally navy and diplomatic assist for Kiev. Al-Sisi’s resolution additionally comes at a time when some members of Congress are urging President Joe Biden’s administration to withhold $320 million of the $1.3 billion in annual US navy assist pledged to Egypt, citing the nation’s human rights document.
US intelligence companies reportedly anticipated a distinct consequence. The Washington Put up reported in April that in accordance with leaked US intelligence paperwork, the Egyptian authorities had permitted a plan to promote 152mm and 155mm artillery rounds to the US for switch to Ukraine.
Al-Sisi attended Russian President Vladimir Putin’s summit with African leaders final month in St. Petersburg. After a one-on-one assembly with al-Sisi, Putin stated Russia aimed to finish an industrial zone close to the Suez Canal as a part of a plan to ramp up commerce with Egypt and different African nations.
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