Egypt and Turkey have begun joint air force exercises at several Egyptian air bases, marking a further expansion of military cooperation between the two countries amid improving bilateral relations.
The Egyptian Armed Forces announced the start of the training programme on Thursday, describing it as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen defence cooperation and enhance operational coordination between the two militaries.
According to the military spokesperson, the exercises involve multi-role combat aircraft from both countries and will continue for several days.
The drills include a range of complex operational scenarios designed to simulate contemporary security and combat challenges.
READ: Report: Growing Egypt-Turkey defence ties draw Israeli and US attention
The first phase focused on theoretical sessions and professional exchanges between participating air crews, aimed at harmonising operational concepts and sharing training experience.
The exercises subsequently moved to practical operations, with Egyptian and Turkish pilots conducting joint training sorties and carrying out simulated missions intended to improve interoperability and tactical coordination.
According to the Egyptian military, the manoeuvres are designed to enhance the capabilities of participating personnel and raise overall combat readiness for joint air operations under a variety of operational conditions.
The exercises come as relations between Cairo and Ankara continue to improve following years of political tensions. In recent years, the two countries have restored diplomatic ties and expanded cooperation across political, economic and security sectors.
READ: Israeli spy Pollard says Turkiye and Egypt could be Israel’s next targets as Ankara is cast as ‘new Iran’
