Ankara – The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced today that the Turkish and Egyptian navies will conduct a joint military exercise in the eastern Mediterranean Sea between September 22 and 26.
Zeki Aktürk, spokesperson for the Turkish Ministry of Defense, made the following statement:
“The Turkey-Egypt Joint Naval Operations Exercise, Bahr El Sadaka (Sea of Friendship), is scheduled to take place in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Codenamed “Friendship Sea,” the drill represents a significant military and diplomatic development, signalling a major shift in the region’s balance of power.
The five-day exercise will be a formidable display of coordinated strength, involving a comprehensive array of naval and air assets.
This strategic cooperation comes at a crucial time, following a recent defense pact between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and amid ongoing geopolitical realignments across the Middle East and North Africa.
The exercise will feature surface vessels, submarines, and specialized units from both countries’ Air Forces, underscoring a high level of interoperability and a shared commitment to maritime security. The sheer scale and public nature of the drill are being watched closely by other regional powers, including Greece, Cyprus, and Israel.
A New Era of Cooperation
This marks the first joint naval exercise between the two nations in 13 years, signalling a significant warming of ties between the two regional powers.
The exercises will include Turkish frigates, fast attack vessels, a submarine, and F-16 fighter jets, alongside Egyptian naval units.
The two navies’ top commanders are expected to attend a high-level observer day on September 25, underscoring the importance of the exercise after more than a decade of strained relations.
Relations between Egypt and Turkey, a longtime backer of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood group, soured a decade ago following Egypt’s 2013 military coup that ousted President Mohammed Morsi, who hailed from the Brotherhood. Egypt also outlawed the group as a terrorist organization.
The two countries’ ties were also strained over their diverging policies on Libya and the eastern Mediterranean.
In 2023, they agreed to repair relations and reappoint ambassadors. Since then, there have been several visits between Turkish and Egyptian leaders and officials.
Both countries have also taken a firm stance against Israel’s military operations in Gaza, working together for a ceasefire.
A Display of Massive Power in a Strategic Region
The eastern Mediterranean has become a nexus of geopolitical competition, driven by the discovery of vast offshore natural gas reserves and its importance as a global shipping lane.
The military presence of various nations in these waters serves as both a deterrent and a statement of national interest.
The “Friendship Sea” exercise is far more than a routine training mission; it is a powerful demonstration of a newly solidified alliance.
According to Talha Ahmad, a prominent defense analyst, the significance of this event cannot be overstated. “This is the first of its kind in decades,” Ahmad stated.
“It carries important signalling in a shifting balance of power in the Mediterranean.”
The inclusion of multiple military branches, from naval surface vessels to submarines and air units, indicates a sophisticated level of planned coordination.
This level of collaboration suggests a long-term strategic vision that extends beyond a single drill.
Broader Implications in a Shifting Global Landscape
The timing of the “Friendship Sea” exercise is particularly noteworthy when viewed alongside other recent regional developments.
The recent defense agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia hints at a broader trend of emerging partnerships that are reshaping traditional power structures.
Nations are increasingly moving beyond old alliances to forge new ones based on shared strategic goals and economic interests. In this context, the Turkish Egyptian exercise is a potent symbol of a new era of diplomatic and military pragmatism.
For Turkey, strengthening ties with Egypt in the Mediterranean offers a way to counterbalance other alliances that have formed in the region, particularly the trilateral partnerships involving Greece, Cyprus, and Israel.
For Egypt, it provides a powerful partner in securing its maritime borders and interests in the resource-rich eastern Mediterranean. The exercise, therefore, can be interpreted as a step toward creating a new, more stable regional framework built on mutual respect and shared military capacity.
