Egypt's president inaugurated a new naval base on the Mediterranean Sea on Saturday, the latest example of the government's military build-up.
The base is meant to "secure the country's northern and western front … and the maritime shipping routes," according to a statement by Abdel Fattah el-Sissi's office.
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The inauguration, aired on state TV, was also attended by Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, and Mohammed al-Menfi, head of Libya's ruling presidential council.
The base is located in the Gargoub area, around 255 kilometers (160 miles) west of the Mediterranean city of Alexandria.
