29-03-2024 11:25 AM Jerusalem Timing

Egypt FM Says Relations with US in ‘Delicate’ Phase

Egypt FM Says Relations with US in ‘Delicate’ Phase

Egyptian foreign minister said that relations between his country and the United States were in ‘delicate’ phase over Washington’s suspension of some military aid in response to a July 3 coup.

Egyptian foreign minister said that relations between his country and the United States were in ‘delicate’ phase over Washington’s suspension of some military aid in response to a July 3 coup.Egyptian FM Nabil Fahmy

Nabil Fahmy said the US administration had overestimated the amount of leverage that its aid dollars bought it over the policies of the interim government installed by the army after it overthrew elected president Mohammad Mursi.

"We are right now in a delicate phase reflecting turmoil in the relationship and whoever says otherwise is not speaking honestly," Fahmy said in an interview published Wednesday by state-owned daily Al-Ahram.

Fahmy said Washington was wrong to assume that its October 10 decision to suspend deliveries of major military hardware and cash assistance of $260 million would influence the interim government's policies.

He blamed the hiccough in relations on the dependence on US aid of the regime of Hosni Mubarak which was ousted in 2011 after three decades in power.

"We chose the easy option and did not diversify our options... this led the US to wrongly believe that Egypt would always follow its policies and aims," Fahmy said.