Egypt has launched the Bright Star 2025 military drills from August 28 to September 10 at the Mohamed Naguib Military Base.
The exercise is held in cooperation with the US Army and with the participation of 8,000 troops from 14 countries.
The Red Cross, NATO, and Egypt’s police forces are also taking part in the military exercise.
Bright Star is one of the largest military drills in the Middle East. Major General Pilot Hisham Al-Halabi stated that the exercise reflects Egypt’s readiness for joint operations and serves the country’s strategic objectives.
The drills include diverse combat missions and strategic discussions that enable Egypt to gain experience and enhance the capabilities of its Armed Forces. They are also an opportunity to become familiar with the latest military equipment, technologies, and advanced weapons systems, Al-Halabi added.
Bright Star incorporates a variety of military doctrines, he noted, pointing out that Egypt has a unique combat style suited to the region’s operational environment.
Moreover, Brightstar reflects the strength of Egypt’s military relations with several countries, particularly the US, he stated.
The countries participating in the drills, in addition to Egypt and the US, are Qatar, Saudi Arabia, India, Italy, Cyprus, Iraq, Greece, Yemen, the UK, Jordan, South Africa, and Kyrgyzstan.
Twenty-nine countries are participating in Bright Star as observers: Uganda, Hungary, Tunisia, Japan, Poland, Oman, Burundi, Malaysia, Argentina, Spain, Kenya, Australia, Indonesia, Kuwait, Germany, Malawi, Mauritania, Vietnam, Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Djibouti, Bahrain, Portugal, South Korea, Switzerland, Rwanda, France, and Pakistan.
This is not the first time Egypt has held Bright Star exercises. The drills’ long history and strong return with broad international participation prove that Egypt’s Armed Forces has a distinct imprint on military exercises, Al-Halabi said.
* A version of this article appears in print in the August 28 2025, edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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