The United States provides $1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt each year. Obama administration officials have repeatedly said it is not in America’s best interests to cut off aid to Egypt. Experts note the country has severe economic problems, including high unemployment and inflation.
Many American observers say the United States has little influence over what is happening or will happen in Egypt. Jeffrey Martini is with the RAND Corporation. He says one reason for the lack of influence is a reduction in American economic aid to Egypt over the years.
“In the mid-1980s, the total aid flow to Egypt from the United States was equivalent to about seven percent of Egypt’s economy. That would give you a lot of leverage. Today, it’s about point-seven percent. So a 10-fold drop as compared to the size of the Egyptian economy. So you don’t get much leverage when you’re looking at aid flows of point-seven percent the size of the Egyptian economy.”
Brent Scowcroft served as national security advisor to two American presidents. He says the United States must help in developing a plan to re-establish Egypt’s economic and political security.
“What’s needed now is to put together a structure which can complete the building of an Egyptian political system. That is, with a constitution, with elections, with governments that broadly reflect the interests of the electorate.”
最新
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25