Egypt and Turkey begin one-week naval exercise

The Egyptian and Turkish navies have begun a week-long joint drill in the eastern Mediterranean, an Egyptian military official said on October 8.

Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, elected in June, has sought to deepen ties with Turkey and this month addressed the conference of the ruling Turkish AK Party.

Turkey was one of the first countries to speak out in support of the Egyptian uprising which toppled Hosni Mubarak and led to the Muslim Brotherhood winning power.

The annual drill, which is called Sea of Friendship and began on October 7, is one of several such joint military manoeuvres between Egypt and Turkey.

The official, who asked not to be identified, said it involved five Egyptian navy units and the Egyptian air force.

Adapted from Worldbulletin