Egyptian and Saudi naval troops and units on Saturday started the main part of a joint naval exercise for the protection of the two countries’ territorial and economic waters in the Red Sea.
Participating in the joint exercise are naval units, special combat troops, surveillance planes and anti-submarine units, the Egyptian Defense Ministry said on its website, World Bulletin reported.
It added that the drill would include training in protecting Egypt’s and Saudi Arabia’s territorial waters and maritime transport in the Red Sea.
The Defense Ministry noted that the exercise was part of a series of other exercises with Saudi Arabia.
“The exercise aims to boost strategic partnership relations between the two countries and also military cooperation between them,” the ministry said.
The drill is part of the security cooperation with sisterly countries to achieve stability and security in the Middle East.
According to the Egyptian army spokesman Mohamed Samir, the drill – called Morgan 15 – had kicked off last Monday. However, the main part of the drill went underway Saturday.
The drill includes destroyers, transport and supply ships, missile launchers, anti-submarine helicopters and naval seals.
The units also carried out an exercise on joint combat in the day and night to secure the Red Sea course and fight smuggling and maritime piracy.
