Egypt will host Bright Star 2025, one of the Middle East’s largest multinational military exercises, beginning August 28 with 43 participating nations. The U.S. Central Command announced that American troops will join Egyptian forces and allies at Mohamed Naguib Military Base until September 10.
The drills aim to strengthen the strategic partnership between Egypt and the United States, highlighting enduring security cooperation amid regional turbulence. Egyptian army spokesperson Col. Gharib Abdel Hafez confirmed 13 nations will contribute over 7,900 troops, with 30 additional states observing.
Bright Star includes naval, air, ground, and special forces operations, designed to sharpen interoperability and prepare armies for joint responses to crises. The exercises trace their roots to 1980, following Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel, evolving into a regular biennial event since 1981.
Participation has steadily expanded, with 34 nations joining the 2023 drills, underscoring Egypt’s role as a regional hub for collective defence engagement. Yet the 2025 edition unfolds under the shadow of Gaza, where Israel continues a devastating military campaign now in its eleventh month.
Nearly 62,700 Palestinians have been killed, according to local health authorities, while famine grips the enclave and aid remains perilously restricted. The International Criminal Court last year issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
Meanwhile, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice, amplifying international scrutiny of its war on Gaza. As armies converge on Egyptian soil for Bright Star, the region’s deepest wounds remain unhealed, casting stark questions over security and peace.
