After a one hour phone call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, US President Barack Obama has lifted a freeze on US military aid to Cairo, sending $US 1.3 billion in weaponry and equipment to Egypt. According to the White House, the US would be shipping 12 F-16 fighter jets, 125 M1A1 Abrams tank kits, 20 Harpoon missiles and further assistance that had been frozen. The US President also promised to continue requestin $1.3 billion in military assistance on an annual basis from Congress. As a result of this, Egypt will remain the second-largest recipient of US military aid, coming after Israel. The White House had initially suspended the funds when former President Mohammed Morsi was deposed. On multiple occasions, Egypt’s President Sisi had stressed the importance of releasing this military aid in order to repair relations with the US and support the fight against terrorism. Obama said future military assistance will be targeted towards equipment used for counter-terrorism, border security, maritime security and for matters in the Sinai. “In this way, we will ensure that U.S. funding is being used to promote shared objectives in the region, including a secure…
