Egypt snubs Jared Kushner meet after US cuts $300m in aid to Egypt over human rights concerns

Donald Trump’s son-in-law gets frosty reception on arrival in Cairo for Middle East peace talks after State Department decision

The US embassy in Egypt said that the Kushner-Shoukry meeting had not been “fixed” in the vistors' schedule

(REUTERS)

Egyptian officials, furious at a US decision to cut millions in military and other aid have cancelled a high level meeting with Jared Kushner and other Trump administration officials, saying that the US’ move reflected “poor judgement”.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson allegedly called Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Tuesday to inform him that $195m (£152m) in military aid and $96m (£75m) in other aid was to be cut over human rights concerns.

Shortly after, President Abdel Fattah al- Sisi met with US presidential advisor Mr Kushner during his tour of the region aimed at restarting talks in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - but his meeting with Mr Shoukry was abruptly cancelled.

“Egypt sees this measure as reflecting poor judgment of the strategic relationship that ties the two countries over long decades and as adopting a view that lacks an accurate understanding of the importance of supporting Egypt’s stability,” the foreign ministry said in a statement of the not-yet-public US decision.

The US embassy in Egypt said that the Kushner-Shoukry meeting had not been “fixed” in the visitors' schedule. Mr Kushner and several other top US officials are on a multi-stop tour of the Middle East taking in Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt and Qatar.

One of the main issues that has reportedly attracted the US’ concern is a new law regulating both local and international NGOs, which gives President Sisi the authority to monitor their activities and control funding.

Civil society organisations warned that the legislation would result in “unprecedented levels of repression“, making it impossible for many charities to function.

Egypt has faced growing criticism over its human rights record since democratically elected Muslim Brotherhood President Mohamed Morsi was overthrown in a coup in 2013.

Thousands of prisoners of conscience have been detained, tortured, died or disappeared while in the custody of the state, rights groups allege.

Former US President Barack Obama froze some aid to Egypt in 2013, under whose administration the relationship between the two countries soured. Mr Trump, however, spoke of a “reboot” in Washington-Cairo ties when he assumed office in January.

News agencies contributed to this report