#us-egypt relations

The meeting comes a day after Kerry attended a donor conference in Cairo, which raised $5.4 billion in pledges to help the Palestinians and the Gaza Strip.

The meeting comes after a tumultuous year for the two countries, as the U.S. had suspended military funded to Egypt after its second revolution and the ousting of Muslim Brotherhood President Mohammed Morsi in July 2013. 

Kerry said that in past visits to Cairo, he had “candid conversations with President Sisi about the challenges both countries face.” Egypt still had to "prove to the world that the country is stable and open to business" as it seeks to restore its economy after years of political upheaval since the ousting of former strong-arm leader Hosni Mubarak in early 2011.

The confirmation comes almost six months after the U.S. originally announced that it had decided to lift its freeze on the delivery of the attack helicopters to Egypt, imposed last year after the military ouster of President Mohammed Morsi and the ensuing crackdown against protestors.

During Saturday’s announcement, Hagel also thanked Egypt for its role in brokering a cease-fire to end the latest round of Gaza fighting between Hamas and Israel. The indirect talks between Israel and Palestine will be held by Egypt within this week to reach a longer-term arrangement between the two sides.