The Biden administration has been caught strong-arming Egypt, a crucial ally in the Middle East, according to leaked documents obtained by The Washington Post. Reportedly, Egypt had planned to secretly sell rockets to Russia, which has been desperate for ammunition in its conflict with Ukraine. However, senior U.S. officials intervened, and Egypt backed down from the deal, choosing instead to sell artillery ammunition to the United States for transfer to Ukraine. This decision is a significant diplomatic victory for the Biden administration, which has prioritized support for Ukraine in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
?Exclusive: Egypt paused a plan to secretly supply rockets to Russia after visits from US officials and instead decided to produce artillery ammunition for Ukraine, according to five leaked U.S. intelligence documents https://t.co/BpTLbcVpCx
— Evan Hill (@evanhill) April 17, 2023
The U.S. has provided over $85 billion in foreign assistance to Egypt, much of it to support Egypt's military since the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty, yet the new memos leaked on Discord show Egypt secretly planning shipment of rockets to Russia. https://t.co/Nrg8bbc1HH
— Lee Fang (@lhfang) April 10, 2023
It’s clear that the Biden administration is not afraid to flex its diplomatic muscles to ensure American interests are protected. The documents reveal that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other U.S. officials traveled to Egypt to persuade President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi to cancel the planned sale and instead side with the United States. This outcome is a testament to the strong relationships that the United States has built over the years with its allies and partners around the world.
However, the leak of these sensitive documents raises concerns about the security of classified information. The documents were reportedly obtained and shared by a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard who posted them on an online gaming chat. This kind of behavior is unacceptable and puts our nation’s security at risk. We must take steps to identify and punish those responsible for these leaks, as well as increase our efforts to safeguard classified information going forward.
It’s also worth noting that the leaked documents show how the United States has been able to infiltrate the Russian war network and spy on our allies like the United Kingdom, Israel, and South Korea. This revelation is not entirely surprising, as international espionage is a common practice among nations. However, it underscores the need for the United States to be vigilant in protecting its own sensitive information and interests.
In conclusion, this leak exposes the Biden administration’s strong-arming of an ally to serve U.S. interests, reaffirming America’s leadership and commitment to supporting its friends in the Middle East. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding sensitive information and preserving our strategic advantages over our adversaries.
Source: Townhall