Cleopatra-2022 was conducted from 12 to 16 September off the coast of the French Mediterranean city of Toulon, the French army said in a Monday tweet.

Egypt's frigate Al-Moez participated in the drills, Gharib said.

The joint exercise included holding several theoretical lectures and practical explanations and conducting training on maritime reconnaissance, intercepting hostile targets, and combating atypical threats.

The training also included inspecting suspicious ships, implementing a number of sailing formations per day and night and training on the exchange of airplanes on the decks of Egyptian and French naval vessels.

Commander of the Egyptian Navy Ashraf Ibrahim Atwa and Chief of the French Navy Pierre Vandier attended the final stage of the training.

Atwa affirmed the General Command of the Armed Forces’ keenness to enhance the bonds of military cooperation between the Egyptian and French navies.

Vandier highlighted the importance of Cleopatra-2022 in transferring expertise, stressing the continuation of cooperation between the Egyptian and French navies in a way that enhances security and stability efforts in the region.

The training “underlined the desire of the two navies to maintain a high level of cooperation and interoperability,” the French army added.

The Egyptian and French armies conducted several joint exercises over the past few years, including earlier annual versions of the Cleopatra drills. Egyptian and French air and naval forces also conducted the joint drills Ramses 2022 in February in Egypt.