Egypt Needs Longer-Term Reform Plans – US State Department

U.S. State Department Spokesman Jen Psaki said on Tuesday that Washington is still reviewing its status on sending military aid to Egypt.

Commenting on the possibility of Russia sending aid to Egypt, Psaki said, “That is something that, given the economic situation in Egypt, can help them and be a short-term solution.

“But we still believe they need to take longer-term reform steps.”

Psaki urged Egypt to lean towards longer-term plans to revive its ailing economy which has suffered dramatically since the toppling of former autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

When Egypt’s army ousted democratically elected Islamist President Mohamed Morsi two weeks ago, with the support of the masses, some described it as a “military coup” and speculated that Washington might review the aid that it sends to the Arab World’s most populous country.

Egypt has been receiving military aid from the U.S. since it signed a peace treaty with Israel under former President Anwar al-Sadat.

Source: Reuters