Egyptian and French armed forces concluded a large-scale military exercise last week, Arab media reported over the weekend.
The weeklong "Ramses 2019" included joint naval and air maneuvers in the Mediterranean. An Egyptian military statement said French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, as well as F-16 Rafale fighter jets, participated in the drill, as did a number of Egyptian frigates and modern rocket launchers.
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The exercise "reflects the enhanced military partnership and cooperation between Cairo and Paris," the statement said.
Mamdouh Hamed, a military expert with the Sadat Military Academy, told local media that the exercise was "aimed at unifying the battling experiences and the exchange of training on the administration of the naval and air fighting among different forces.
"The joint military drill promotes the military cooperation based on new war techniques and the modern method of battling," Hamed said.
According to Arab media, the training included various drills, such as the protection of an important cargo ship, the exchange of helicopters on the roofs of naval units, joint navigation exercises, a simulation of various naval battle formations, artillery training, raids on hostile targets, fighting nontraditional threats, and inspecting suspected vessels.
"The training comes within the framework of the Armed Forces' plan to bolster military relations with different countries," the Egyptian military's statement said.
In March, the Egyptian and French navies conducted a joint military exercise in the Egyptian regional waters with the aim of boosting cooperation. The same month saw Paris and Cairo's air forces hold joint aerial drills.
