US aid to the Middle East has played a significant role over the years in the economic and security development of the region, furthering stability and strategic partnerships.

The United States has pledged massive aid packages to support Palestinian civilians in Gaza, becoming the largest single country humanitarian donor to the Palestinian people.

In June, US officials announced an additional $404 million in aid to support Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the West Bank and the region, bringing total US assistance to more than $674 million over the previous eight months.

The funding has provided vulnerable Palestinians food, safe drinking water, health care, protection, education, shelter and psychosocial support, according to the US State Department.

From May to July, the US military along with partner nations delivered almost 11,000 tons of humanitarian aid via different military delivery techniques.

When added to aid coming overland, the total humanitarian aid enabled by the United States by July exceeded 25,000 metric tons.

Meanwhile, China has promised barely a tenth of that amount. In May, President Xi Jinping pledged just $69 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza.

The relatively small sum provided by the world's second-largest economy is on par with the level of trust Palestinians have in China's sincerity in helping mediate an end to war, Ahmed Aboudouh wrote for the Atlantic Council last December.

Assistance to Egypt

For the past 40 years, the United States has maintained a strategic partnership with Egypt, rooted in military cooperation, economic aid and shared interests in Middle Eastern stability.

US assistance has transformed the daily lives of Egyptians. The funding has played a crucial role in eliminating polio in the country, according to the US State Department.

US initiatives have reduced maternal mortality by 78%, enhanced the livelihoods of over half a million smallholder farmers, and improved the education system by training 115,000 primary school teachers, benefiting five million children across 16,000 schools.

More than 20,000 Egyptians have participated in US exchange programs, and 450 Egyptians travel to the United States annually on professional and academic exchange programs facilitated by the US Embassy Cairo.

The United States is also committed to preserving Egypt's cultural heritage. In November 2021, the two countries renewed an agreement that strengthens protections for Egypt's cultural patrimony and enables bilateral cooperation to disrupt the trafficking of archeological artifacts and cultural objects.

In contrast, China's involvement in Egypt, while economically significant, has not matched the depth of US contributions.

Skepticism has arisen, as analysts warn that Chinese involvement in key locations and economic sectors of Egypt, especially the Suez Canal economic zone, may have dire long-term consequences.

Beijing's approach has focused more on infrastructure investments and trade, rather than the comprehensive economic, social and military assistance provided by the United States.

This difference highlights the unique role the United States plays in supporting Egypt's broader developmental goals, compared to China's more self-serving, transactional investments.