The military exercise, which will continue till 14 September, will also include observers from 15 other countries in addition to the participation of civil police and a number of legal experts from the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Among the countries that are participating in the exercise taking place on Egypt’s North Coast and other naval bases and air bases across the country are Saudi Arabia, Greece, UAE, Oman, Jordan, UK, Greece, Cyprus, Pakistan, and India.
India is joining the exercise for the first time ever this year.
In a speech at the opening ceremony, Lieutenant General Osama Naga, chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces Training Authority, said that Bright Star is one of the most advanced military exercises in the region. He said that the exercise helps participating forces to learn new tactics and to improve their ability to work together.
Brigadier General Matthew Reed, the exercise director from the United States, said that Bright Star is an important opportunity for the United States and Egypt to strengthen their military cooperation and promote regional security and stability.
According to a US embassy statement on Friday, approximately 1,500 US military service members will participate. This year's edition will focus on regional security and cooperation while promoting interoperability in conventional and irregular warfare scenarios, it added.
In its 18th iteration, Bright Star is one of the longest-running exercises in the US Central Command Area of Responsibility, with the first exercise taking place in 1980.
In its 22nd edition in 2021, 21 countries participated in the exercises.
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