US Secretary of State John Kerry wrapped up the sixth leg of his nine-nation tour in Egypt on Sunday. It is too early to evaluate whether he has attained the objectives of his first overseas trip, but he was certainly spreading money around.

Kerry announced on Thursday in Rome that the United States would provide aid in food and medical supplies as well as an extra $60 million in nonlethal assistance to the Syrian opposition coalition. On Sunday in Cairo, Kerry continued his spending spree by pledging to provide $250 million in aid to the Middle East country.

Given the spending cuts that will come into effect in the US at the start of this month, everyone knows the US is not giving away money for nothing. Even Kerry himself cannot deny the political motivation of such assistance.