US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Egypt today with promises of weapons for allies in the Middle East.
Ms Rice and Mr Gates, who are also due to visit Saudi Arabia, will urge their Arab allies to do more to help the United States over Iraq but dismissed suggestions arms worth tens of billions of dollars were a quid pro quo to get that assistance.
The military aid package on offer to Egypt is $13 billion over ten years, the same level as for at least the last six years. But Washington is offering Israel an increase of about 25 per cent - to $30 billion over the next decade.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, speaking in Shannon Airport last night
"This is not an issue of quid pro quo. We are working with these states to fight back extremism," said Ms Rice, who spoke to reporters in Shannon airport last night. "This effort will help bolster forces of moderation and support a broader strategy to counter the negative influences of al-Qaeda, Hizbullah, Syria and Iran."
The United States has repeatedly sought Arab help with Iraq, although its Arab allies have little or no say there. Saudi Arabia has some weight with Sunni Arab tribal leaders.
Privately, Bush administration officials are increasingly frustrated at Saudi Arabia's attitude towards the Iraqi government, dominated by Shia Muslims linked with Iran, but Ms Rice sought to play down that criticism.
The US military package includes weapons for Saudi Arabia and the other conservative Gulf countries.
Iran has criticised the promise of arms, accusing the United States of trying to create fear and mistrust in the Middle East and of aiming to destabilise the region.
"If there is a destabilisation of the region it can be laid at the feet of an Iranian regime," Ms Rice said.