Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi attended on Saturday the "Qader 2021" military drill at the newly-inaugurated "3rd of July" Naval Base in Gargoub area in the country’s northwestern coast.

El-Sisi was accompanied by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, head of Libya’s Presidency Council Mohamed Al-Menfi as well as senior Egyptian officials including Minister of Defense and Military Production Mohamed Zaki.

Earlier in the day, El-Sisi inaugurated  the 3rd of July Naval Base, the newest Egyptian military base on the Mediterranean Sea, that will be in charge of securing Egypt’s northern and western strategic borders.

The naval base will also safeguard Egypt’s economic capabilities, secure shipping routes, and maintain maritime security by using combat groups from land military units, submarines, and air forces, presidency spokesman Bassam Rady said.

During the opening ceremony, commander of the Egyptian Navy Lieutenant General Ahmed Khaled said the base is part of the overall development strategy for the Armed Forces. “The base is a message of peace and development for the entire region,” he stressed.

The 3rd of July base reflects Egypt's commitment to securing the Suez Canal and navigation routes, Khaled stated.

The 3rd of July base represents a new addition to Egypt’s naval bases system, Rady said, as part of the comprehensive development plan for the Navy Forces.

Through the development plan, the naval bases will act as provider of the logistical support for the Egyptian troops in the Red and Mediterranean seas to confront any challenges and threats that may exist in the region, as well as combating the smuggling and illegal immigration, the presidential spokesman noted.