⭕️ The State Department waived human rights certification requirements for $320 million in annual military financing to Egypt, citing Cairo’s “helpful role” in the U.S.’s war on Iran, according to a September 21 letter to Congress signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and reported on by Reuters. The memo did not elaborate on the details of that “help.” ➤ Egypt is the second largest recipient of U.S. military aid in the world, receiving roughly $1.3 billion annually since the 1980s following its 1979 peace treaty with Israel. ➤ While small portions of aid to Egypt have been withheld in the past, granting a national security waiver to override human rights concerns is now routine. In September 2024, the Biden administration issued a waiver to grant the full $1.3 billion allocation, citing Egypt’s assistance to the U.S. around Israel’s war on Gaza.