US suspends delivery of four F-16s to Egypt: Pentagon

WASHINGTON - Agence France-Presse

Egyptian jet fighters fly over Tahrir Square, in Cairo, on July 7 as tens of thousands of people staged a show of force in Tahrir Square to back the army's ouster of Egypt's first freely elected president. AFP photo

The United States has decided not to go ahead with plans to supply Egypt with an additional four F-16 fighter jets due to unrest gripping the country, the Pentagon said July 24.

"Given the current situation in Egypt we do not believe it is appropriate to move forward at this time with the delivery of F-16s," spokesman George Little told reporters.

"We remain committed to the U.S.-Egypt defense relationship as it remains a foundation of our broader strategic partnership with Egypt and serves as a pillar of regional stability," he said.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel informed Egypt's army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of the decision in a phone call earlier Wednesday, Little said.

The Egyptian army chief, who led a coup on July 3 that ousted President Mohamed Morsi, called for mass protests on July 24 to back a crackdown on what he called "terrorism and violence" by Morsi supporters.

Sisi's appeal also was discussed in Hagel's phone call to the general, according to Little, who did not offer more details.

US focused on 'hastening Egypt's transition to democracy'

The Pentagon did not say specifically why it made the decision to delay the delivery of the fighter jets but said the U.S. government wanted to see Egypt move quickly towards democratic rule.

"Moving forward, everything we do and say will continue to be focused on hastening Egypt's return to a democratically elected government as soon as possible, consistent with our legal requirements and our national security interests," he said.

The U.S. decision, however, did not signal that President Barack Obama's administration had concluded that Morsi was pushed out in a coup, Little said.

The administration has refrained from saying Morsi was the victim of a coup, which would legally require a freeze on some $1.5 billion in US military and economic assistance to Cairo.

U.S. officials were still reviewing whether events in Egypt could be labeled a coup, Little said.

Under a $2.5 billion deal signed in 2010, the United States is committed to providing 20 F-16 fighters to Egypt. Four jets were delivered earlier this year and four more F-16s were due to be shipped over in coming weeks.

Despite the decision to delay delivery, the United States would go ahead with a planned joint military exercise with Egypt, Little said.