File photo of US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel standing with an Egyptian army officials
Egypt has decried Washington's decision to freeze a sizable chunk of its annual $1.5 billion aid to Egypt, saying the move was wrong and ill-timed.
In Egypt's first public reaction, the Foreign Ministry said today that the American move, whether permanent or temporary, raised questions about Washington's commitment to supporting the Arab nation's security goals at a time when it is facing terrorist challenges.
The US said the aid would be restored if "credible progress" was made toward setting up an inclusive government in the wake of the ouster in a July 3 coup of Mohamed Morsi, an Islamist freely elected in June 2012.
The Foreign Ministry statement said Cairo was keen to maintain good relations with Washington, but will independently decide its domestic policies.