The military spokesperson for the Egyptian Armed Forces, Brigadier General Gharib Abdel Hafez, confirmed on his official social media page on Saturday evening that the training is being conducted with the participation of more than 8,000 fighters from 14 countries, with 30 other countries participating as observers, along with elements of the civilian police and representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross and NATO.
Major General Sherif Al-Arayshi, head of the Armed Forces Training Authority, highlighted in his opening ceremony speech the significance of the joint Egyptian-American training, being one of the largest joint military exercises in the region, reflecting the benefits and strengthening military relations among all participating countries.
In turn, Brigadier General Patrick Clare, the training director, expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by the Egyptian Armed Forces in hosting this extensive training. Clare explained that the joint maneuvers reflect the substantial efforts and high-level planning that make the training an ideal opportunity for exchanging experiences and understanding different military cultures among the participants.
The opening ceremony was attended by several leaders and commanders of the participating forces and a number of media representatives. On the sidelines of the training events, elements of the Egyptian and American parachute forces performed a demonstration that included a parachute drop over the historic Pyramids area, attended by several military leaders and the American ambassador in Cairo.
