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Order Code RL33003
Egypt: Background and U.S. Relations
Updated August 12, 2008
Jeremy M. SharpSpecialist in Middle Eastern AffairsForeign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
 
Egypt: Background and U.S. Relations
Summary
This report provides an overview of Egyptian politics and current issues in U.S.-Egyptian relations. It briefly provides a political history of modern Egypt, anoverview of its political institutions, and a discussion of the prospects fordemocratization in Egypt. This report will be updated regularly.U.S. policy toward Egypt is aimed at maintaining regional stability, improvingbilateral relations, continuing military cooperation, and sustaining the March 1979Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. Successive Administrations have long viewed Egypt’sleaders as a moderating influence in the Middle East, though in recent years, therehave been increasing U.S. calls for Egypt to democratize. Congressional views of U.S.-Egyptian relations vary. Many lawmakers view Egypt as a stabilizing force inthe region, but some Members would like the United States to pressure Egypt toimplement political reforms, improve its human rights record, and take a more activerole in reducing Arab-Israeli tensions.The United States has provided Egypt with an annual average of over $2 billionin economic and military foreign assistance since 1979. The Administration hasrequested $1.3 billion in military aid for Egypt in FY2009 — the same amount itreceived in FY2008. For FY2009, the Administration is requesting $200 million inESF for Egypt, a notable decrease from previous fiscal years. According to the U.S.State Department’s FY2009 Congressional Budget Justification, “FY 2009 economicassistance funds for Egypt will decrease from the FY 2008 level, reflecting a morebalanced, mature bilateral relationship consisting of foreign assistance andcommercial linkages.”There are several pieces of pending legislation on Egypt before the 110
th
Congress. Among them, H.Res. 1303, referred to the House Committee on ForeignAffairs on June 24, 2008, encourages the Egyptian government, among other things,to honor its commitment to repeal the state of emergency in order to allow for the fullconsolidation of the rule of law in Egypt and take the steps necessary to fullyimplement and protect the rights of religious minorities as full citizens.
 
Contents
Stagnation in U.S.-Egyptian Bilateral Relations..........................1Historical Background .............................................2Egypt During the Colonial Era ...................................2The Constitutional Monarchy & the British.........................3Nasser and Egypt During the Cold War.............................3Egypt-Israeli Peace ............................................5The Camp David Agreement and 1979 Peace Treaty..............5Egypt Under Mubarak..........................................6Regime Structure..................................................7Overview....................................................7The Role of the Military in Egyptian Society....................8The National Democratic Party (NDP).........................9Reinforcing Regime Rule.......................................9Political Opposition and Civil Society.................................11The Muslim Brotherhood ......................................12The Brotherhood’s “Party Platform”..........................13Civil Society in Egypt.........................................13Organized Labor.............................................14Current Issues in U.S.-Egyptian Relations..............................15The Debate over U.S. Assistance to Egypt.........................15The FY2008 Withholding of U.S. Military Aid..................15Recent History of Congressional Action on Aid to Egypt .........16Hamas and the Egypt-Gaza Border...............................18Overview...............................................18Hamas-Egypt Relations....................................18The Egyptian-Brokered “Cease-Fire” and Rafah Border Crossing...19Inflation and Prospects for Social Unrest ..........................19Human Rights, Religious Freedom, and Women’s Rights.............20Religious Freedom........................................21Women’s Rights.........................................22U.S. Foreign Assistance to Egypt....................................22Economic Aid...............................................23Military Aid.................................................24
List of Figures
Figure 1. Map of Egypt.............................................3
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