Egypt and Türkiye wrapped up their joint naval exercises, “Sea of Friendship 2025,” conducted over several days in Turkish territorial waters. The drills mark a step toward closer military coordination between the two countries but raised concerns among regional observers, particularly in Israel.
The Egyptian military spokesman said on Tuesday the drills aimed to “maximize bilateral capabilities and exchange expertise in securing maritime operational theaters against various threats.”
In a statement on his official Facebook page, the spokesman explained that the exercises included numerous workshops to unify operational concepts, live-fire drills by special forces, helicopter exchanges on ship decks, inspections of suspicious vessels, and at-sea supply operations.
The announcement drew attention in Israel, which expressed concern over the maneuvers coinciding with heightened media tensions and disputes involving both Egypt and Türkiye in recent months.
The exercises also reverberated in Cyprus and Greece, both of which maintain strong ties with Egypt but have strained relations with Türkiye.
Hebrew newspaper Maariv described the drills as “indicative of a potential shift in regional relations and security cooperation,” adding that Türkiye is seeking to cement its position as a key Middle East player following the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria.
The drills coincided with reports that Israel had delivered a third shipment of its advanced Barak MX anti-aircraft system to Cyprus, sparking debate in Türkiye over the implications for regional security and potential clashes with Nicosia.
Experts speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat noted that while Cyprus and Greece may have concerns over the exercises due to historical disputes with Türkiye, the drills are unlikely to affect Egypt’s relations with either country, and Cairo could play a mediating role in future interactions with Ankara.
Türkiye’s Ministry of Defense emphasized that the drills, conducted in the Mediterranean with Egypt, “do not target any third country” and reaffirmed Ankara’s goal of promoting the Mediterranean as a “sea of peace.”
Egyptian military authorities said the exercises strengthen “military cooperation and the ability to operate jointly with the armed forces of brotherly and friendly nations.”
Major General Hamdi Bakhit, advisor at Egypt’s Command and Staff College, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the exercises are “always conducted with friendly countries and are not aimed at any state. They serve as reassurance that these drills are tools for deepening bilateral ties,” particularly on coordination over the Palestinian issue.
He added that the maneuvers foster operational alignment between Egyptian and Turkish forces on critical security objectives, which could include counterterrorism operations, search-and-rescue missions, or safeguarding East Mediterranean energy activities.
Despite the drills falling short of first-tier combat cooperation, Bakhit said they “lay the groundwork for future coordination if confrontations arise, given shared concerns over Israeli actions in the region.”
The term “Greater Israel,” used repeatedly by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has raised alarms in Cairo and Ankara, prompting Egypt to request clarification from Israel.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Israel seeks to expand at the expense of neighboring states. Historically, the term has referred to Israel alongside East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza, Sinai, and the Golan Heights.
Bashir Abdel Fattah, an analyst at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the exercises reinforce strategic cooperation between Egypt and Türkiye, building on intelligence sharing, defense industry collaboration, and joint training, particularly regarding Libya, East Mediterranean security, and maritime borders.
He added that Israeli concern stems from fears the drills could block its expansionist ambitions, and from a recognition that Arab and Muslim states are increasingly aware of regional threats following conflicts involving Iran and attacks on Qatar.
Greek and Cypriot concerns, he said, “will be addressed by Egypt’s role as mediator,” stressing that enhanced Egypt-Türkiye relations are not aimed at Athens or Nicosia but at countering shifts in regional power in Israel’s favor.
Türkiye has longstanding disputes with Greece and Cyprus over maritime boundaries and has not joined the East Mediterranean Gas Forum, established in 2019 to create a regional gas market including Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Israel, and France.
