Egypt, UAE Agree to Bolster Military, Security Cooperation

Sisi during a meeting with the Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi during a meeting with the Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces. (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt, UAE Agree to Bolster Military, Security Cooperation

Sisi during a meeting with the Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi during a meeting with the Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces. (Egyptian Presidency)

Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to continue security and military coordination and consultations.

This came during a meeting between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held and Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces Lt. General Hamad Mohammed Thani al-Rumaithi in Cairo on Wednesday.

Egyptian Minister of Defense and Military Production General Mohamed Zaki and UAE Ambassador to Egypt and Permanent Representative in the Arab League Mariam Khalifa al-Kaabi attended the meeting.

Presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said Sisi conveyed his most sincere greetings to President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, wishing the UAE further development and prosperity.

He affirmed that the relationship between the two countries is the cornerstone of the stability of the Middle East and the Arab region.

Rumaithi underscored the deep-rooted ties between the two countries.

He said the UAE is keen to enhance the bilateral strategic cooperation in all areas, most notably in exchanging military expertise.

Special forces from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Greece conducted a four-way joint military exercise in September.

Dubbed ‘Hercules-21,’ the four-day drill was held for the first time at the Special Forces Training Center in Peramos, Greece, and it aimed at confronting terrorist elements and exchanging expertise.

The military exercise included lectures on countering terrorism, training on managing joint combat operations among the participating elements, training on fighting in closed and open spaces, hostage rescue and medical evacuation.

Forces were also trained to carry out airdrops and sea landings from the thunderbolt and parachutes as well as raids.

In November, naval and air forces from Egypt, the UAE, Greece and Cyprus also held a joint military exercise, dubbed Medusa 11, in Greece.



Emir of Qatar to Visit Damascus on Thursday

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. (KUNA)
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. (KUNA)
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Emir of Qatar to Visit Damascus on Thursday

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. (KUNA)
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. (KUNA)

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani will visit Damascus on Thursday, Qatar's Al Jazeera reported, as Syria's new interim government begins a political transition after the opposition factions ousted the Assad regime last year.

Qatar's foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

In January, a US official and a senior diplomat said Qatar planned to help finance a sharp increase in public sector wages pledged by Syria's new government.

Qatar had been lobbying Washington to issue a sanctions exemption for Syria allowing it to provide funding through official channels, the US official and diplomat said.