During this afternoon’s press gaggle aboard Air Force One, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said that the United States would not withhold aid to Egypt after the attacks on the embassy in Cairo.
“No.” Carney stated flatly when asked by reporters if the United States would cut funding to Egypt.
“It’s important to note, as the readout of the presidents call noted, that…we appreciate the public statements that President Morsi has made condemning acts of violence.” said Carney according to the pool report.
When asked about the President’s remarks that he wasn’t sure if Egypt was still considered an ally of the United States, Carney clarified.
“No, the president, in diplomatic and legal terms, was speaking correctly,” Carney said. “As I said, we do not have a mutual defense treaty with Egypt, like we do, for example, with our NATO allies. But as the president has said, Egypt is a long-standing and close partner of the United States and we have built on that foundation in supporting Egypt’s transition to democracy and working with the new government.”
