The Egyptian regime has been under military rule since 1952 when Gamal Abdel Nasser staged a coup. This control persisted under subsequent leaders and was reinforced by a later coup led by Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. U.S. foreign aid, primarily military, has been a consistent feature of Egypt’s governance, allowing the regime to prioritize military investments over developmental goals.
Since 1952, Egypt has been governed by a military regime that began with Gamal Abdel Nasser’s coup d’état, which overthrew the parliamentary monarchy. This military dominance continued under his successors, Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak, evolving through civil unrest during the revolutionary period from 2011 to 2013. Ultimately, a subsequent coup led by Abdel Fattah el-Sissi reestablished firm military control, distributing positions among generals and solidifying military surveillance throughout the country.
Following Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, his administration suspended nearly all foreign aid with the exception of Israel and Egypt. The el-Sissi regime retained its support due to a provision in the 1979 Israel-Egypt peace treaty, which allocates $2 billion in military aid annually to Israel, with about two-thirds designated for Egypt. For over four decades, Egypt’s military leadership has viewed the $1.3 billion in annual military aid as an entitlement, prioritizing military spending over national development initiatives.
In summary, the military’s grip on Egypt has persisted since the coup in 1952, with various leaders maintaining this status quo through stringent control. The financial support from the United States, established through the peace treaty with Israel, reinforces this military regime, allowing it to largely neglect the broader developmental needs of Egypt. The interplay between American military aid and Egypt’s military governance presents a significant aspect of the regional political dynamics.
Original Source: www.lemonde.fr
