Naval exercise in Mediterranean Sea jointly conducted by Egypt, France: Official

French and Egyptian naval forces recently carried out a maritime training exercise in the Mediterranean Sea, the Egyptian Armed Forces said in a statement. The drill saw the participation of French frigate SURCOUF and units from the Egyptian navy.

The training was accomplished within the background of the Egyptian Armed Forces' efforts to strengthen military relations with different nations, according to the statement.

The drill included maritime activities such as how to apply sailing formations, counter hostile targets and repel non-traditional threats, as well as carrying out the inspection of vessels.

Egypt regularly holds military exercises with Arab, African and Western countries to boost military collaboration and exchange expertise.

The military ties between Egypt and France have been growing in the past years. In October 2015, Egypt and France signed a contract worth 1 billion U.S. dollars on the purchase of two French Mistral warships, which were delivered to Egypt in June and September 2016.

Egypt has so far received 11 French-made Rafale fighter jets out of total 24, under a 2015 contract worth more than 6 billion dollars.

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