Sisi, U.S. Central Command Chief discuss military cooperation in Cairo

CAIRO - 8 September 2018: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi met on Saturday with the Commander of United States Central Command, Joseph L. Votel, where they discussed the military cooperation between the two countries, according to the presidency spokesperson Bassam Radi.

According to Radi’s statement, the U.S. Commander asserted the importance of conducting the joint military drill “Bright Star 2018” between the Armed Forces of the two countries, especially under the developments the region goes through.

Sisi confirmed the importance of strategic relations with the US. The drill will take place at Mohamed Naguib Military Base, along with a maritime exercise in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Bright Star falls within the framework of joint drills, which the Egyptian Armed Forces conduct to promote military relations with sisterly and friendly states.

On August 31, a number of U.S. forces and equipment arrived at an Egyptian airbase in preparation for the joint military exercises "Bright Star 2018" due to be conducted from Sept. 8 to 20.

Land, naval and air forces from Egypt, US, Greece, Jordan, Britain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Italy and France will take part in the drills.

Several countries, including Lebanon, Rwanda, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, South Africa, Senegal and Canada, were invited to monitor the exercises.

The drills are meant to exchange expertise among participating forces, hone their skills, develop operations and training mechanisms in combating terrorism, in addition to joint planning and management of military operations and training to confront maritime security threats.