Egypt, France kick off military drills in Mediterranean

Egypt has kicked off joint air and naval drills with France, one of its biggest arms suppliers, in the Mediterranean, the Egyptian army said Monday.

“Egypt and France are carrying out the ‘Ramses 2022’ naval and air exercises in the Mediterranean… which will last several days,” army spokesman Gharib Abdelhafiz said in a Facebook statement.

The latest exercises aim “to exchange martial and field experience as well as prepare for any joint operations,” the statement said.

The spokesman added that the drills also seek “to secure vital targets in the Mediterranean.”

The two countries have held several naval drills in the Red Sea and the Mediterranean involving Egyptian and French frigates, according to separate statements by the Egyptian army.

Last year, Egypt signed a deal with France’s Dassault Aviation company to purchase 30 Rafale fighter jets.