EU's restriction of arms exports has little impact on Egypt, analysts say

Source:Xinhua Published: 2013-8-23 10:26:25

The European Union (EU)'s decision to review any arms sales to Egypt will have little impact on the turbulent country, analysts said on Thursday.

The EU ministers agreed on Wednesday to suspend exports to Egypt of any equipment that can be used for internal repression and review any arms sales in response to the mounting violence, but the 27-nation bloc opted to maintain economic assistance.

Expressing concern over the economic situation, the ministers said "assistance in the socio-economic sector and to civil society will continue."

The EU's decision came one day after US President Barack Obama convened a meeting with his national security team on the situation in Egypt and a review of US aid to the country.

Housam Swilam, ex-chief of the Armed Forces Center for Strategic Studies, said the EU's decision is worthless since Egypt does not import its arms from Europe, adding the European countries lost its last card of pressure.

Arming the Egyptian military depends on Russia and the United States, the expert said, "Egypt is developing its own arms, and the international market for arms is open, and "the Gulf countries will buy weapons for Egypt."

Swilam warned the European approach towards Egypt will threaten Europe's commercial ties with the Arab Gulf countries which support the interim Egyptian government.

Gamal Zahran, chief of the political science department at Port Said University, said the EU's decision carried "anger message" from the west over the conditions in Egypt.

"Egypt should be ready for the European anger," Zahran said, but he ruled out that the EU' decision to review arms exports will affect the capabilities of the Egyptian army.

Posted in: Africa

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