Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The administration of President Barack Obama has determined that the safety of Americans marked the priority in U.S. relations with Egypt.

Officials said the U.S. security dialogue with Egypt’s new military-backed regime was focused on protecting the American presence in Cairo and Alexandria.

The officials said the U.S. effort has been led by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who spoke to his Egyptian counterpart nearly 20 times over the last month.

“Protection of Americans in Egypt, not just only our diplomats, but all Americans, is of the highest priority,” Hagel said. “All the American government officials, including [the] American military, have been working very closely with the Egyptian military and police to assure the security and protection of Americans in Egypt, and we’ll continue to do that.”

At a news conference on Aug. 19, Hagel did not elaborate. But officials said the administration’s effort focused on protection of the U.S. embassy in Cairo and consulate in Alexandria amid the threat of a backlash against Americans.

The U.S. embassy, stormed in September 2012, has repeatedly urged
Americans in Egypt to stay off the streets and avoid demonstrations.
Officials said Hagel, deemed the leading interlocutor with the Egyptian
leadership, has urged Defense Minister Abdul Fatah Sisi to increase security
around the embassy.

During the news conference, Hagel acknowledged limited U.S. influence in
Egypt. The secretary said the Egyptians would need to intensify efforts to
end the clashes with the ousted Muslim Brotherhood, in which nearly 1,000
people have been killed in less than a week.

“All nations are limited in their influence in another nation’s internal
issues,” Hagel said.

Egypt receives $1.55 billion in U.S. aid, about 90 percent for the
military. Hagel did not confirm reports that the administration has withheld
$565 million of that aid for fiscal 2013, which ends on Sept. 30.

“The United States has a longstanding relationship with Egypt that is
based on our respect for the people of Egypt, the country of Egypt,” Hagel
said. “We have interests, clearly, in the Middle East, interests that
include hopefully a development of some progress toward an
Israeli-Palestinian settlement. So we continue to work with the Egyptian
interim government, as well as the Egyptian military.”

  Abdul Fatah Sisi, Alexandria, Cairo, Hagel appeals for heightened security at U.S. embassy in Cairo, Muslim Brotherhood