With ex-army chief Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi sworn in as Egypt's president,
Washington has promised that it will cooperate with his government. Are
US-Egyptian ties returning to the Mubarak-era status quo of military
rule?
More than three years ago, US President Barack Obama withdrew
Washington's long-standing support for Hosni Mubarak, accelerating the
former air force marshal's overthrow by mass demonstrations. Today, the
White House is cooperating with Egypt's latest
military-commander-turned-president, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, in what some
analysts say is a return to the old status quo of US support for
military rule.
"The United States looks forward to working with [Abdel-Fattah
el-Sissi], the winner of Egypt's presidential election, to advance our
strategic partnership and the many interests shared by the United States
and Egypt," the White House said in a
news release.
According to Amy Hawthorne, an Egypt expert with the Atlantic Council,
the White House has adopted a pragmatic approach in its relations with
post-Mubarak Cairo. Hawthorne said that the Obama administration would
prefer to deal with a democratic government. But with the political
situation in Egypt unpredictable, Washington fears a complete break in
its ties with Cairo, which could jeopardize its core security interests
in the peace treaty with Israel and counterterrorism cooperation.
"This administration does not believe that the US has very much ability
to influence or shape Egyptian domestic politics," Hawthorne told DW.
Read more: US backing of el-Sissi reminiscent of Mubarak era | World | DW.DE | 08.06.2014
