Egypt at risk of US sanctions over purchase of Russian Su35 fighter jets: US official
Egypt’s purchase of Russian fighter jets puts it at risk of US sanctions and threatens future purchases of US equipment, a State Department official said on Monday.
Added Clark Cooper, assistant secretary of state for political and military affairs, said Egypt was aware of those risks.
“Egypt is aware of these risks”, US Assistant Secretary of State for Political and Military Affairs Rene Clark Cooper said at the Dubai Airshow.
The Wall Street Journal has revealed that US Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have warned Egypt against buying Russian Su35 fighter jets.
In a warning to Cairo, the two ministers said that “new and large arms deals with Russia will at least affect future defense cooperation agreements between the United States and Egypt and aid to Egypt to ensure its security”, the newspaper said.
The ministers also said, according to the newspaper, that “Egypt may be subject to sanctions under US law, which prohibits the purchase of Russian military equipment”.
The Wall Street Journal said the United States has consistently called on all its allies and partners to refrain from signing deals with Russian defense and intelligence institutions, which could lead to sanctions.
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu visited Egypt earlier this week for talks with President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi.
Shoygu, at the head of a Russian delegation, also participated in the sixth meeting of the Egyptian-Russian Joint Committee for Military-Technical Cooperation.
