Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa, Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces, returned home Saturday, accompanied by his delegation, upon the conclusion of his official visit to the Republic of Italy. The visit included official reception ceremonies, an honor guard review, and the playing of the national anthems of both countries.

During the visit, Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa met with General Luciano Portolano, Chief of the Italian Defense Staff. The meeting addressed a number of issues of mutual interest, followed by an expanded session of talks aimed at exploring ways to enhance military cooperation between the Egyptian and Italian Armed Forces.

The Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces affirmed the depth and strength of the longstanding relations between the two friendly countries, expressing his aspiration to expand areas of cooperation across various military fields, the Egyptian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

For his part, the Italian Chief of Defense Staff commended Egypt’s effective role in supporting the pillars of security and stability in the Middle East, emphasizing Italy’s keenness to strengthen bilateral military relations in a manner that serves the shared interests of both sides.

On the sidelines of the visit, the Chief of Staff laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in defense of their homelands.

The visit also included a tour of the headquarters of the Italian Armed Forces Joint Operations Command, where Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa reviewed the Command’s operational framework, which reflects the highest levels of professionalism and joint coordination among the various services in managing modern operations with utmost precision and efficiency. (Source & Photo © Egyptian Ministry of Defense)