Turkey and Egypt hold joint naval exercise

Reports from Turkey have given details of a joint naval exercise with Egypt in Turkish territorial waters in the northern Mediterranean. Dozens of warships from both countries are taking part in the exercise along with elements of the Special Forces and Turkey’s Air Force Reserve.

The theme for the exercise is “Sea of Friendship 2011” and live ammunition will be used in drills practising how to repel surface and airborne targets. According to Turkish television, this is the third year that such an exercise has taken place. Ankara is said to encourage such programmes owing to the “good relations which link Egypt and Turkey”.