As the U.S. State Department prepares to waive democracy requirements and release as much as $1.3 billion in aid to Egypt, a new Gallup poll shows that the majority of Egyptians would rather cozy up to countries like Iran and Turkey than embrace the United States.
Congress passed legislation in 2011 that tied funding in Egypt to progress on democracy and human rights issues. The law, however, also included a waiver provision that allows the state department to overlook the requirement if it is necessary for “national security interests.”
According to the poll, released Friday, 56 percent of Egyptian adults view “closer relations” with the U.S. as a bad thing for the country. That number is up from 40 percent in December. Just 28 percent of Egyptians now believe closer relations with the U.S. would be good for Egypt.
That 28 percent number compares poorly with the 60 percent who favored closer relations with Turkey and 40 percent who said the same about Iran. And among those three countries, Egyptians most strongly disapprove of the leadership in Washington. America received a 65 percent disapproval rating, worse even than Iran’s 58 percent.
Congress passed legislation in 2011 that tied funding in Egypt to progress on democracy and human rights issues. The law, however, also included a waiver provision that allows the state department to overlook the requirement if it is necessary for “national security interests.”
According to the poll, released Friday, 56 percent of Egyptian adults view “closer relations” with the U.S. as a bad thing for the country. That number is up from 40 percent in December. Just 28 percent of Egyptians now believe closer relations with the U.S. would be good for Egypt.
That 28 percent number compares poorly with the 60 percent who favored closer relations with Turkey and 40 percent who said the same about Iran. And among those three countries, Egyptians most strongly disapprove of the leadership in Washington. America received a 65 percent disapproval rating, worse even than Iran’s 58 percent.
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