As the Egyptian Navy celebrated its national day this week, Vice Admiral Ashraf Ibrahim Atwa, commander of the Egyptian Navy, provided Al-Ahram Weekly with an overview of the navy’s development, explaining the capacities that make it a pillar of Egypt’s national security architecture and a guarantor of stability in a troubled region.

Since its inception, the Egyptian Navy has played a central role in preserving Egypt’s national interests by defending its maritime borders and the security of vital waterways like the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. Thanks to its unflagging efforts to modernise, and a strategic vision that fuses a long military heritage with a forward-looking vision, the Egyptian Navy now ranks among the world’s top navies according to all international classifications.

The Navy was founded by the modernising Ottoman Viceroy of Egypt Mohamed Ali Pasha in 1809. “Since then,” says Vice Admiral Atwa, “it has penned a history filled with heroic deeds and self-sacrifice.”

This is perhaps best illustrated by the events that occurred on the morning of 21 October 1967, the anniversary of which has become the Egyptian Navy Day, when two missile boats from Port Said fired several surface-to-surface missiles at the Israel destroyer Eilat which had breached Egyptian territorial waters in an attempt to assert Israeli dominance over the maritime theatre. They succeeded in sinking what was then Israel’s largest naval vessel. It was the first major military operation since the defeat in 1967, a day of pride and dignity that revived confidence in the Egyptian Armed Forces.

That the navy continues to uphold its proud reputation is exemplified in its leadership of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Task Force 153.

“The CMF is a multinational maritime partnership, not a military alliance in the traditional sense,” explained Vice Admiral Atwa. “Its guiding principles are compliance with international law and international maritime law, and mutual cooperation with member states in the preservation of maritime and regional security.

“Task Force 153 aims to counter illicit activities at sea that threaten maritime security, freedom of navigation, and global trade. Such activities include arms smuggling, trafficking in drugs and contraband, piracy, and illegal migration. The force performs its duties exclusively in international waters and does not infringe on the national sovereignty and territorial waters of other countries.

“Egypt is the first country in the region to head Task Force 153, taking over leadership from the US in late 2022. The force is crucial to maintaining maritime security and safety in the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandeb region which is of great importance to Egypt’s national security given the movement of commercial ships to and from the Suez Canal, one of the world’s most important international waterways.”

On the long tradition of keeping abreast with developments in military sciences and training, Atwa said that the Armed Forces General Command is keen to ensure naval officers receive the most advanced scientific and technological training possible so that the Navy can carry out assignments with the greatest efficacy. For example, he said, the Navy has signed a cooperation protocol with Alexandria University making it possible for Naval Academy students to join the bachelor’s degree programme in political science at Alexandria University. The purpose is to maximise the educational process by giving students the opportunity to engage in collaborative and interdisciplinary academic studies and research, honing their theoretical and practical academic and research skills. As a result, naval officers can graduate with three degrees, one in military sciences, a second in naval sciences and a third in political science.

Intensive training complements the Navy’s ongoing armaments development plan to strengthen its ability to secure Egypt’s territorial and economic waters. One example cited by Vice Admiral Atwa is the agreement the navy concluded with the German shipbuilding company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) for the acquisition of four MEKO-A200 frigates.

“Three of these frigates were manufactured in Germany, while the fourth was built at the Alexandria Shipyard. This is in keeping with the Navy’s policy of promoting joint manufacturing collaborations and technology transfer when concluding contracts for naval acquisitions.

“The policy had been implemented earlier with the purchase of Gowind-class frigates designed by the French company Naval Group. Under that deal, the last two frigates were built at Alexandria Shipyard by Egyptian teams.

“The three MEKO-A200 frigates made in Germany have already been received and entered service as Al-Aziz, Al-Qahhar and Al-Qadeer. They will strengthen the Navy’s capacities in both the Mediterranean and Red Sea operational theatres.”

The importance of technological transfer and localising of defence technologies cannot be overstated. The navy has three industrial complexes — the Naval Shipyard, the Egyptian Ship Repair and Building Company and the Alexandria Shipyard. Functionally integrated, they provide technical support and maintenance and, when needed, undertake repairs to Egypt’s naval assets. With support from the political leadership and the General Command, these facilities have been upgraded to meet the latest international defence manufacturing standards.

“In addition to the joint technology transfer projects such as the Gowind and MEKO-A200 frigates constructed in the Alexandria Shipyard, we have made great strides in building port security boats, pilot boats, and tugboats. Our manufacturing citadels are staffed by expertly trained and certified Egyptian personnel,” says Vice Admiral Atwa.

As part of its security-related duties, in close coordination with agencies such as the Border Guard Forces, Military Intelligence and Civil Police, the Navy plays a major role in combating illegal migration and smuggling.

“The Navy’s efforts have foiled numerous attempts to smuggle migrants into Europe. With tighter patrols and intensified use of visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) protocols in accordance with international maritime law, we have been able to apprehend many boats involved in the smuggling of drugs, weapons and contraband. Those involved in these activities were handed over to the authorities to initiate appropriate legal procedures.”

“This sends a strong and clear message about our vigilance in safeguarding Egypt’s security, stability, and national interests. Egypt’s contributions to fighting illegal migration by preventing and intercepting such operations from Egyptian coasts and territorial waters stand out in the region and have had a positive impact on strengthening cooperation and partnership with the EU, and particularly with Southern European countries which are among the first to be affected by illegal migration.”

But the navy’s mission involves more than military and security tasks. It also helps countries afflicted by natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes.

“Egypt is a global leader in providing urgent relief and assistance to our brothers in these countries,” says Vice Admiral Atwa.

“For example, after the devastating earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey in February 2023, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi immediately issued directives to ship hundreds of tons of relief aid, including medical supplies and food, to both countries. Helping other countries in need is part of Egypt’s regional role, and the responsibilities and duties it undertakes are always in keeping with international and humanitarian law.”

Egypt acted just as quickly when civil war erupted in Sudan last year. Egyptian naval vessels set sail for Port Sudan carrying hundreds of tons of food and medical supplies to be distributed in the neediest areas. The Navy also takes a lead in evacuating Egyptian citizens, and those from friendly and brotherly countries, from conflict zones. Egyptian naval vessels were among the first in Port Sudan to evacuate hundreds of foreign nationals in coordination with the Sudanese government authorities.

Another demonstration of the Navy’s humanitarian role occurred in the wake of Storm Daniel which struck the Libyan coast in September 2023. Implementing the directives of the president and the General Command of the Armed Forces, the Navy sent its Mistral-class helicopter carrier to Libya loaded with hundreds of tons of food, medical supplies, ambulances and technical equipment. The Mistral also established a field hospital to treat the injured.

Addressing the challenges and threats the Navy contends with against a backdrop of mounting global tensions — not least those caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict — Vice Admiral Atwa stressed that Egypt had called for diplomatic solutions and a political settlement from day one of the war, warning of the grave humanitarian and economic impacts of the crisis. The steps Egypt has taken, he adds, reflect its neutrality, which has been manifested in the Suez Canal Authority’s rejection of any suggestion that it close the canal to vessels from any country.

“It has made clear that international maritime laws must stand above the vicissitudes of politics and war.”

The Navy has also increased vigilance around national resources and assets within Egypt’s territorial and economic waters, including the Zohr gas field in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Suez Canal.

Looking ahead, Vice Admiral Atwa says that “given the rapid pace of scientific and technological advances we must constantly focus on building the capacities of our human resources, enabling them to remain on top of the latest developments in the military and naval sciences.”

“The individual soldier is the cornerstone of our combat readiness and must always be able to assimilate and master advances in armaments and defence systems.”

* A version of this article appears in print in the 24 October, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly