Egypt–United States relations

Egypt and the United States started their official relationship in 1922, after Egypt became independent from the United Kingdom. Over time, the ties between these two countries have been influenced by major events in the Middle East, such as the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and efforts in Counterterrorism.

The United States has supported leaders in Egypt, including Hosni Mubarak and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. This support has been discussed a lot, especially after the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. Many people in Egypt have shared worries about how their country is led, and these worries have impacted the relationship between the two nations.

Today, Egypt and the United States keep working together on many issues, but they also face challenges because of different opinions on governance and human rights in Egypt. Learning about this relationship shows us how countries interact and affect each other in our world.

History

Background

The United States did not have much contact with Egypt when it was ruled by the Ottoman Empire and later by Britain. President Ulysses S. Grant visited Egypt on his trip around the world. Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser (1956–1970) often opposed the United States because of his support for the Soviet Union and his strong views against Israel. However, the United States helped keep him in power by persuading Britain and France to end their invasion in 1956. The United States has supported leaders in Egypt who worked with US and Israeli interests, especially Presidents Anwar Sadat (1970–1981) and Hosni Mubarak (1981–2011).

From 1948 to 2011, the United States gave Egypt about $71.6 billion in aid. This was the most aid given to any country during that time, except for Israel.

1950s and 1960s

The Egyptian Revolution of 1952 did not change relations with the United States right away, and the US continued to give aid. The United States was worried about Soviet influence in the Middle East because of the region's oil. The US wanted to create a defense group like NATO in the area, centered on Egypt.

American leaders were torn between supporting their allies in Europe and winning over leaders from the Third World who disliked European control. The US tried to get countries in the area to work together against the Soviets but had little success. In 1953, Egyptian leader Nasser turned down a request to join an anti-Soviet group, even though the US offered him $3 million. He preferred an Arab defense group led by Egypt.

The US was concerned when Egypt got closer to the Soviet Union. In 1956, Egypt recognized Communist China, so the US stopped talks about funding the Aswan Dam. When Egypt took control of the Suez Canal, a big conflict called the Suez Crisis happened. The United States helped force Britain and France to stop fighting and pulled them out of Egypt. This briefly improved relations, but tensions rose again when Egypt bought weapons from the Soviet Union and turned down a US plan to control fighting between Arabs and Israelis. This led the US to send weapons to Israel in 1965.

In 1967, a war called the Six-Day War happened. Egypt broke off ties with the United States and worked more with the Soviet Union.

1973–2011

Relations stayed poor through the early 1970s. After Nasser died, his successor Anwar Sadat began talking with the United States about making peace with Israel. This led to the Camp David Accords and a peace treaty in 1979. Sadat worked to improve Egypt's economy with help from the United States.

During the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, the United States asked Egypt's leader to make changes and respect people's rights. Relations got worse when Egyptian forces raided offices of groups that help with democracy. The United States threatened to stop aid money but later the two countries started to fix their relationship.

Since 1987, Egypt has received about $1.3 billion in military aid each year from the United States.

Military cooperation

Egypt and the United States work together on military matters. After making peace with Israel, Egypt became one of the largest receivers of military help from the United States. This help made Egypt stronger in Africa and the Middle East.

The United States has given billions of dollars to Egypt for many years to help with the military and the economy. This support helps keep important routes open, like the Suez Canal, which is very important for trade and for ships moving between oceans. Some people worry about human rights in Egypt and think the United States should be careful about giving military help while these issues are not fixed.

Counterterrorism

The United States and Egypt also work together to stop terrorism. Egypt supported the United States after the attacks on September 11, 2001, but did not send soldiers to Afghanistan or Iraq. Egypt thinks it is important to wait for a proper government in Iraq before helping to rebuild the country.

Even with some disagreements, the two countries share important information and help each other with safety, especially near the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip.

Resident diplomatic missions

• Egypt has an embassy in Washington, D.C. and consulates in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York City.
• The United States has an embassy in Cairo.