Cardin freezes military aid to Egypt, questions support for Azerbaijan

Newly installed Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin is moving quickly to put his stamp on the panel, announcing a freeze on new military aid and arms sales to Egypt because of the Cairo government’s poor human rights record and calling for a “reevaluation” of U.S. aid to Azerbaijan after its forcible takeover of a large Armenian-majority enclave in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The moves announced Tuesday are a direct fallout from the federal corruption charges lodged last month against former committee Chairman Bob Menendez, who was forced to surrender the gavel as a result of the indictment. Among other charges, the New Jersey Democrat was accused of taking bribes to help the government of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Mr. Menendez has denied the allegations.

Mr. Cardin, Maryland Democrat, said in a statement that Egypt was a key strategic partner for the U.S. but must improve its record on human rights and civil liberties “if our bilateral relationship is to be sustained.”

Rights groups have long complained that Mr. el-Sisi, a former military officer and defense minister who came to power in the wake of a 2013 military coup, has jailed regime critics and stifled Egypt’s independent press. The Egyptian leader announced last week plans to run for a third term as president in elections set for December.

“Congress has been clear, through the law, that the government of Egypt’s record on a range of critical human rights issues, good governance, and the rule of law must improve if our bilateral relationship is to be sustained,” Mr. Cardin said.

“As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I believe it is imperative that we continue to hold the government of Egypt, and all governments, accountable for their human rights violations,” he added. “I intend to exercise fully the committee’s oversight responsibilities and my authorities to hold foreign military funds and the sale of arms to the government of Egypt, if it does not take concrete, meaningful and sustainable steps to improve the human rights conditions in the country.”

The move puts Mr. Cardin, who has announced he will not run for re-election next year, at odds with the Biden administration. Citing Egypt’s strategic value in the region and its importance to U.S. national security, the administration recently waived legal restrictions to approve some $235 million in foreign military funding to the el-Sisi government, although another $85 million was withheld to highlight human rights concerns.

“I have spoken with [Secretary of State Antony Blinken], and I look forward to working with the Biden administration on our shared goal of protecting and expanding human rights in Egypt,” Mr. Cardin said in his statement. “My hold on current funds will remain until specific human rights progress is made.”

The State Department said it was still working with the new chairman and with Cairo on the future of military aid.

“We’re continuing to work and consult closely with Congress and the Egyptian Government on providing the [military funding] package announced by the secretary that advances our shared vision for a secure and prosperous region, while ensuring that tangible progress on human rights continues to be made in Egypt,” department spokesman Matt Miller told reporters Tuesday. “I’m not going to get ahead of that process.”

Mr. Miller said on Wednesday that Mr. Blinken “stands by his decision” waive the restrictions and approve some $1.215 billion in military aid to Egypt for fiscal year 2022.

In a separate statement, Mr. Cardin said the U.S. government must re-assess its military aid to Azerbaijan in the wake of what he called an “ethnic cleansing” of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh. More than 80% of the population of the enclave has left for Armenia in the weeks since Azerbaijan’s government announced the territory was being dissolved and absorbed into the rest of the country.

“As the world continues to grapple with Azerbaijan’s coordinated, intentional campaign of ethnic cleansing, we must both prioritize support for the Armenians who have been expelled as well as holding Azerbaijan accountable,” Mr. Cardin said. “The United States should halt security assistance to Azerbaijan until it has stopped this brutal campaign.”

Despite considerable bipartisan opposition on Capitol Hill, the Biden administration is reportedly weighing whether to renew a waiver allowing new military aid for Azerbaijan as the clash over Nagorno-Karabakh has played out.