A joint French-Egyptian naval drill dubbed "Cleopatra-Gapian 2019" kicked off in France on Sunday (March 31st), the Egyptian Armed Forces said in a statement.
Egyptian units and vessels including ENS Gamal Abdel-Nasser, an amphibious assault ship, and the multi-purpose frigate Tahya Misr ("Long Live Egypt") arrived at Toulon Port in France to participate in the joint exercise.
The drill is meant to improve naval performance and increase fighting experience, Egypt's Ahram Online reported.
The naval forces also carried out drills to counter threats against maritime security, including acts of terrorism, protect cargo ships and search suspicious vessels.
Students from the Egyptian naval academy are participating in the drill to gain experience in naval combat. The drill will continue for several days.
