The activities of the Egyptian–French joint naval exercise (Cleopatra-2025) have concluded after several days of training conducted within French territorial waters.
The exercise, which kicked off on 14 December 2025, involved a number of naval units and elements of the Egyptian and French naval special forces, and comes within the framework of the Armed Forces’ plan for joint exercises with friendly and allied countries, aimed at expanding military cooperation and enhancing maritime security measures in the region.
The exercise included the delivery of numerous theoretical lectures and the conduct of practical drills, as well as the execution of tactical live-firing activities. Vertical insertion operations using helicopters to assault buildings and enclosed spaces were also carried out, reflecting the high level of professionalism attained by the participating forces, , the Egyptian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
Training activities further covered countering non-traditional threats, conducting practical drills for helicopter cross-deck landings on naval vessels, and replenishment at sea. In addition, forces trained on visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operations against suspected vessels, and executed live artillery firing to neutralize hostile surface targets.
The exercise also featured various sailing formations, demonstrating the high degree of interoperability, cohesion, and the ability of the participating units to maneuver with precision and rapid response.
The main phase of the exercise was attended by Major General Mahmoud Adel Fawzi, Commander of the Egyptian Navy, Admiral Christophe Lucas, Commander of the French Fleet in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, along with a number of Senior Commanders from both the Egyptian and French Naval Forces
In another development, the Egyptian Armed Forces, in cooperation with the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organized a training course for a number of trainees from brotherly and friendly African countries. The course aims to enhance their capabilities in the field of protection and security of high-profile individuals and is being conducted at one of the Military Police units.
The course included a series of theoretical lectures designed to develop and refine the skills of the participating personnel, in addition to the execution of several practical training activities covering standard operating procedures and specialized tactics related to the protection and security of high-profile individuals. The program also incorporated a number of standard and non-standard live-fire exercises, contributing to strengthening the trainees’ capabilities to carry out the specialized tasks assigned to them in their respective countries.
The trainees expressed their deep appreciation and gratitude to the Armed Forces for organizing such courses, which contribute significantly to enhancing their training standards across various fields related to the nature of their duties (Source & Photo © Egyptian Ministry of Defense)
