Egypt and Türkiye have launched a new series of joint maritime training activities under the Friendship Sea 2026 exercise, hosted by the Egyptian Naval Forces in Alexandria.
The exercise is taking place from November 4 to 9, with Egyptian Northern Fleet units and Turkish naval forces participating in a programme designed to strengthen operational coordination and facilitate the exchange of military expertise.
On November 7, the Egyptian Armed Forces formally announced the launch of the joint training activities, confirming the participation of naval personnel and maritime special forces from both countries.
Egyptian military officials described the exercise as part of expanding defence cooperation between Cairo and Ankara.
The programme includes theoretical instruction, practical exercises and maritime operational training designed to improve coordination between the participating forces.
Egypt's Northern Fleet Hosts Joint Naval Operations
Alexandria Naval Base serves as the principal location for the exercise, with activities taking place within the Egyptian Northern Fleet's operational area.
The base is a major facility for Egypt's Mediterranean naval operations and provides the infrastructure necessary to host visiting warships and joint training programmes.
According to the Egyptian Armed Forces, the exercise began with theoretical and practical lectures aimed at harmonizing operational concepts between the two navies.
The initial phase focused on establishing common procedures and preparing participating personnel for coordinated maritime activities.
The programme also includes practical training intended to strengthen operational skills and familiarize personnel with joint naval procedures.
Several Turkish naval vessels arrived at Alexandria Naval Base in the days preceding the exercise.
Egyptian military officials emphasized that the programme is intended to improve cooperation between the two countries' naval forces and support the exchange of professional experience.
Turkish Naval Ships Participate in the Exercise
Türkiye is participating in Friendship Sea 2026 with several major naval platforms.
According to the Turkish Ministry of National Defence, the deployed units include TCG Anadolu, the frigate TCG Gaziantep and the fast attack craft TCG Meltem.
TCG Anadolu is a multipurpose amphibious assault ship capable of supporting naval operations and providing facilities for the deployment and coordination of different military units.
TCG Gaziantep is a frigate designed for a range of maritime operations, including missions involving surface and underwater threats.
TCG Meltem contributes fast naval manoeuvring capabilities to the participating Turkish formation.
Turkish naval personnel specializing in underwater assault operations are also involved in the training programme.
The Egyptian Navy has not publicly released a complete list of its participating vessels.
The involvement of different naval platforms provides opportunities for the two forces to improve their ability to operate together during coordinated maritime missions.
Surface Warfare and Anti-Submarine Training
The exercise includes training across several areas of naval warfare.
Surface warfare activities focus on developing operational coordination between ships, improving communication and strengthening common procedures during maritime missions.
Anti-submarine warfare training is intended to improve the ability of participating naval units to identify and respond to potential underwater threats.
The programme also includes air defence training, allowing naval personnel to develop coordination in responding to threats originating from the air.
Underwater assault activities involve specialized naval personnel and focus on the operational requirements of maritime special forces.
Together, these training areas are designed to support greater interoperability between Egyptian and Turkish naval units.
The two defence ministries have not publicly disclosed every operational scenario or the detailed sequence of activities taking place during the exercise.
Egyptian and Turkish Navy Commanders Hold Talks
The joint exercise has also been accompanied by high-level military meetings.
On November 7, Turkish Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu visited Alexandria Naval Base, where he met his Egyptian counterpart, Lieutenant General Mahmoud Adel Mahmoud Fawzy.
The commanders held official discussions, followed by meetings between their respective delegations.
The visit took place as the two navies continued their joint training programme in the Mediterranean.
Fawzy, who commands the Egyptian Naval Forces, oversees Egypt's naval operations and maritime defence activities.
Tatlıoğlu leads the Turkish Naval Forces and is responsible for the command of Türkiye's naval units.
Their meeting reflects continued engagement between the senior command structures of the two countries.
The discussions also demonstrate the institutional dimension of renewed naval cooperation between Cairo and Ankara.
Turkish Naval Chief Visits Embassy in Cairo
Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu also conducted diplomatic and ceremonial engagements during his visit to Egypt.
On November 6, he visited the Turkish Embassy in Cairo and met Ambassador Salih Mutlu Şen.
The meeting took place during his participation in activities connected with the Friendship Sea exercise.
On November 7, Tatlıoğlu conducted inspections at Alexandria Naval Base as part of his official programme.
He also visited the Turkish Martyrs' Cemetery in Alexandria, where he laid a wreath in remembrance of Turkish military personnel who had lost their lives.
The visits added diplomatic and commemorative elements to the military programme taking place in Egypt.
Distinguished Observer Day Scheduled for November 8
Friendship Sea 2026 includes a Distinguished Observer Day scheduled for Sunday, November 8.
The Turkish Ministry of National Defence previously announced that Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu would attend the activity.
The observer programme is intended to provide senior military representatives with an opportunity to follow the exercise and assess the cooperation taking place between the participating naval forces.
Such events form part of the wider diplomatic and military engagement surrounding multinational or bilateral training programmes.
The exercise is scheduled to continue until Monday, November 9.
The completion of the full programme and any subsequent operational assessments remain subject to the final announcements by the participating defence authorities.
Naval Cooperation Resumed After Years of Interruption
Friendship Sea has a history dating back to 2009, when Egypt and Türkiye began conducting joint naval exercises.
The programme continued during a period of closer military engagement before being suspended following the deterioration of bilateral political relations in 2013.
Diplomatic tensions between Cairo and Ankara affected cooperation in several areas, including defence relations.
The two governments subsequently moved to restore diplomatic ties, with ambassadors reappointed in 2023 and high-level political contacts expanding afterward.
In September 2025, the two navies resumed the Friendship Sea programme through a joint exercise hosted by Türkiye at Aksaz Naval Base in Muğla.
That exercise marked the first major bilateral naval training programme of its kind after approximately 13 years.
The 2026 edition represents a continuation of the renewed exercise series, this time under Egyptian hosting arrangements.
Lessons From the 2025 Exercise
The 2025 Friendship Sea exercise provided an initial framework for rebuilding operational cooperation between Egyptian and Turkish naval units.
Held in Turkish waters, it involved participating warships, special forces and supporting military assets.
The programme included joint maritime manoeuvres, live-fire training by special forces and activities intended to improve coordination between naval platforms.
Egyptian and Turkish personnel also conducted boarding and inspection procedures involving suspected vessels, helicopter operations between ship decks and replenishment activities at sea.
The participating units practiced sailing formations and operational procedures designed to improve their ability to conduct coordinated missions.
The 2026 exercise builds on that renewed contact by providing further opportunities for training and professional exchanges.
While the two editions share common objectives, the Egyptian and Turkish defence authorities have not indicated that every activity conducted in 2025 is being repeated in the 2026 programme.
Egypt's Mediterranean Role in Naval Cooperation
Hosting Friendship Sea 2026 places Egypt's Mediterranean naval infrastructure at the center of a renewed bilateral military relationship.
Egypt maintains significant naval facilities along its Mediterranean coastline, with Alexandria serving as an important center for fleet operations.
Joint training with foreign naval forces allows Egyptian personnel to exchange expertise and develop operational familiarity with different platforms and procedures.
For Türkiye, the exercise provides an opportunity to conduct maritime training alongside a major regional naval force.
Both countries maintain important security and economic interests in the Mediterranean.
Their growing defence contacts are taking place alongside a broader improvement in diplomatic and economic relations.
However, the joint exercise does not constitute the announcement of a new military alliance or combined naval command.
Its stated objectives remain operational training, cooperation and the exchange of expertise.
Exercise to Conclude on November 9
The Egyptian-hosted Friendship Sea 2026 naval exercise is scheduled to conclude on November 9 following several days of activities in Alexandria and the Northern Fleet's area of operations.
The programme aims to strengthen maritime coordination, enhance training standards and improve interoperability between the two naval forces.
The participation of Turkish warships, the involvement of Egyptian naval units and the meetings between senior naval commanders reflect the continuing development of military contacts between Cairo and Ankara.
For Egypt, the exercise represents another step in its programme of international military cooperation and highlights the role of the Northern Fleet in joint maritime training.
The event also demonstrates that naval cooperation between Egypt and Türkiye has continued beyond the initial resumption of their joint exercises in 2025.