Naval Postgraduate School

U.s. Security Assistance to Egypt: a Source of Influence or Illusion Naval Postgraduate School

Publisher Marketing: This book examines how the United States uses military assistance to influence the foreign and domestic policies of Egypt, one of the two leading recipients of U. S. security aid. While it is generally believed that arms transfers provide a patron state with influence over a client state's behavior, little evidence has been provided to support this proposition. This research examines influence theory and the difficulties associated with the study of influence. Then it examines how the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and the International Military Education and Training (MET) programs serve as tools for the United States to exert influence. Finally, these programs are evaluated through an examination of Egyptian policy making during three historical periods which correspond to the presidencies of Gamal Nasser, Anwar Sadat, and Hosni Mubarak. The FMS program influences Egyptian behavior through the development of numerous U. S.-Egyptian personal relationships at all governmental levels and through Egyptian dependence on the United States for weapons, training, financing, and follow-on support. The IMET program influences the potential leaders of Egypt by providing students exposure to U. S. culture and values. U. S. influence efforts in the case of Egypt have been most successful in obtaining short-terms goals that were of mutual interest to both nations.