The U.S. and Egypt are set to resume military exercises this month, for the first time since 2009.
U.S. officials previously canceled them in 2013 following an Egyptian army crackdown on protests.
The joint training is usually held every two years, but was also canceled in 2011, after the Arab Spring uprising that year, which resulted in the removal of Egypt’s long-time ruler Hosni Mubarak.
The announcement on the “Bright Star” exercises came weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration denied Egypt $95.7 million in aid and delayed $195 million.
According to a the Egyptian military, the exercises will take place from September 10-20, at the new Mohamed Najuib military base in west Alexandria.
Egypt is considered as one of Washington’s closest Arab allies, though that relationship took a hit under former President Barack Obama, who briefly froze aid to Egypt after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi overthrew his Islamist freely elected predecessor in 2013 after mass protests against him.
Acording to Reuters news agency, the U.S. provides $1.3 billion in military aid and about $250 million in economic aid to Egypt each year.
