Türkiye and Egypt Signal Shifting Regional Alliances with Joint Naval Exercise
Cairo – Türkiye and Egypt have conducted their first joint naval exercise in 13 years, a advancement widely seen as a meaningful turning point in bilateral relations and a recalibration of power dynamics in the Eastern mediterranean. The five-day exercise, held between september 22nd and 26th, follows a period of political tension between the two regional powers.
The exercise, dubbed “bahr El Sadaka” (Sea of Friendship) in Arabic and officially named the Special Exercise of the Turkish Sea Naval Operation, comes amid growing concerns over regional stability and perceived threats.
Türkiye participated with the TCG ORUCREIS,TCG GEDIZ FERGHAT,TCG IMBAT,TCG BORA,TCG Gurf Gurflit,and two F-16 fighter jets,as confirmed by the Turkish Ministry of Defense.
Experts suggest the increased defense cooperation is a strategic move by Ankara and Cairo to bolster their positions in the contested mediterranean, where disputes over maritime boundaries and energy resources are prevalent. “The main purpose of our exercise in this region is interoperability… to enable military vehicles, ships and aircraft from various countries to carry out joint operations,” explained Kemal Olcar, a military strategist and faculty member at Beykent University, in a report by TRT World.
With Türkiye currently ranked as the top military force in the Middle East and ninth globally, and egypt possessing a substantial naval capability, the combined strength of the two nations is considerable.
However, a key driver behind this renewed cooperation appears to be shared concern regarding Israel’s regional ambitions. Hany Elgamal, a researcher in regional and international affairs in Egypt, stated to TRT World, “This is a warning for Israel and its allies that there are other ways that can be used by Egypt and its allies in this region to frustrate their expansionist plans in the region.”
This joint exercise signals a potential new alignment in the region, with Türkiye and Egypt seemingly prepared to present a united front in response to perceived challenges, particularly those stemming from Israeli policies.