United States Cancels Egypt’s Military Debt
1990-12-27
President George H. W. Bush authorized the cancellation of Egypt’s remaining Foreign Military Sales debt on 27 December 1990. The $6.7 billion decision followed Egyptian cooperation with Operation Desert Shield, as the United States assembled a coalition after Iraq invaded Kuwait. [2] [1]
President Hosni Mubarak had first sought a negotiated settlement among Arab governments. After Egypt supported an Arab League decision to defend Saudi Arabia, Egyptian troops began joining the deployment there in August. Cairo said its forces would help liberate Kuwait and would not invade or occupy Iraq. [1]
Congress authorized debt cancellation in November. When other major creditors did not agree to comparable reductions, Bush invoked national security authority to proceed unilaterally, linking the decision explicitly to Desert Shield. Egyptian troops subsequently advanced into western Kuwait during the February 1991 ground campaign, between American Marine and Army forces. [3] [1]
Sources
- Congressional Research Service: Egypt–United States Relations
Clyde R. Mark, IB93087, pp. CRS-9–11: Military Assistance; Desert Storm
- President Bush orders cancellation of Egyptian military debt
Letter to congressional leaders; Public Papers of George Bush
- Presidential Determination 91-10 on Egyptian military debt
Determination under section 592, Public Law 101-513; Federal Register filing 31 December 1990
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Cite This Article
United States Cancels Egypt’s Military Debt. Chanceries Diplopedia. Record 5f380c0265cf761946b2. https://chanceries.org/research/history/egypt-gulf-coalition-1990-0bf3b24776/