IRIA News

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Turkiye and Egypt conducted a joint naval exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean from November 4 to 9, 2026. The Sea of Friendship 2026 exercise was held off Alexandria and brought together naval forces from both countries to strengthen cooperation in maritime security, unmanned systems, and the defense industry.

The exercise was conducted in the operational area of the Egyptian Navy’s Northern Fleet, while Turkiye deployed its amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu, the largest vessel in its navy, alongside other warships, helicopters and Bayraktar TB3 unmanned aerial vehicles.

The drills covered surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, air defense, underwater assault activities, and joint operations involving air and naval units.

Turkish and Egyptian naval commanders attended the exercise’s distinguished observer activities and held discussions at Alexandria Naval Base. Turkish Navy Commander Admiral Ercument Tatlioglu met his Egyptian counterpart, Vice Admiral Mahmoud Adel Fawzy, to discuss expanding cooperation between the two navies.

Tatlioglu described the exercise as an important demonstration of improving relations between the two countries in the Eastern Mediterranean. He said the participating forces had taken concrete steps to develop cooperation in unmanned aerial and naval systems, highlighting the involvement of Turkiye’s Bayraktar TB3 unmanned aerial vehicle and the PIRANA unmanned surface vehicle, developed by the Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE).

The Turkish delegation also presented defense industry products aboard TCG Anadolu, which the two naval commanders and their delegations visited during the exercise. The Turkish contingent included the TCG Gaziantep frigate, TCG Meltem patrol boat, two SH-70 helicopters and three AH-1W attack helicopters, in addition to three Bayraktar TB3 drones.

#المتحدث_العسكرى : ختام فعاليات التدريب البحري المشترك المصري التركي ( بحر الصداقة – 2026 ) … https://t.co/LlOPPTArxJ

— المتحدث العسكرى (@EgyArmySpox) November 12, 2026

Egypt participated with its multipurpose amphibious assault ship Gamal Abdel Nasser and several other naval vessels, including M. Fahmy, El Fateh, Fouad Zekry, El Farouk and Al-Arish.

Fawzy described the exercise as well planned and successfully conducted despite unfavorable sea conditions. He said the two navies had demonstrated their ability to train, plan and conduct boarding operations together, adding that they could eventually operate alongside each other on joint missions.

The exercise followed the resumption of the bilateral naval drills in 2025 after a 13-year interruption, making the latest edition another step toward restoring regular military engagement between the two countries.

Turkiye Seeks Joint Warship Construction with Egypt

Beyond the military exercise, the most significant development was Turkiye’s proposal to expand naval cooperation into joint warship construction. Tatlioglu said Ankara wanted to take defense industry relations with Egypt to a more advanced level by pursuing a shipbuilding arrangement similar to the MILGEM project with Pakistan.

“We aim to take our defense industry cooperation in the maritime domain to a more advanced level by undertaking joint shipbuilding activities with Egypt, similar to the cooperation we have established with Pakistan under the MILGEM Project,” Tatlioglu said.

The MILGEM program provides a model for Turkiye’s naval defense industry cooperation with foreign partners. Initiated by the Turkish Navy to develop domestically designed warships, the program has produced Ada-class corvettes and Istanbul-class frigates for the Turkish fleet, while also supporting export and technology cooperation with other countries.

Under a 2018 agreement with Pakistan, Turkiye is building four MILGEM-class corvettes for the Pakistan Navy. Two vessels are being constructed in Turkiye and two in Pakistan, with the program also involving technology transfer and the development of local shipbuilding capabilities.

Tatlioglu’s reference to this arrangement indicates that Turkiye is considering a similar framework for Egypt, potentially extending cooperation beyond the purchase of Turkish naval platforms to include joint production and industrial participation.

However, the proposal remains at an early stage. Neither government has announced a signed shipbuilding contract, a confirmed vessel type or number, production locations, or a delivery schedule. The details of any technology transfer or division of industrial responsibilities have also yet to be established.

Cooperation Extends to Unmanned Systems

Joint shipbuilding is not the only area under discussion. The two countries are also seeking to expand cooperation in unmanned platforms and naval weapons, reflecting the growing role of these systems in modern maritime operations.

The participation of the Bayraktar TB3 and PIRANA during the exercise provided an opportunity to demonstrate Turkish capabilities in unmanned aerial and surface systems. Tatlioglu said Turkiye attached importance to sharing its defense technologies with friendly and allied countries and had taken concrete steps to develop cooperation with the Egyptian Navy in this field.

Discussions have also covered the possible joint use of domestically developed guided munitions, torpedoes and naval mines. No specific agreements or implementation timelines have been announced for these systems.

Mine warfare is another potential area of cooperation. Tatlioglu referred to the Turkish Navy’s experience in dealing with drifting mines in the Black Sea following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. Turkiye has shared its operational knowledge in this area with Egypt, with both sides recognizing the importance of protecting maritime transportation routes.

The Eastern Mediterranean’s strategic position, energy resources and major shipping routes make maritime security an important area for both countries. Closer naval coordination could therefore provide practical benefits beyond the exercise itself, particularly in surveillance, mine countermeasures and the protection of commercial shipping.

Maritime Cooperation Despite Differences Over Libya

The expanding military relationship is also notable because Turkiye and Egypt continue to hold different positions on important Eastern Mediterranean maritime issues.

On October 20, Libya’s eastern-based House of Representatives in Benghazi unanimously approved the 2019 maritime jurisdiction agreement between Turkiye and Libya. The agreement seeks to delimit maritime jurisdiction areas between the two countries in the Mediterranean, forming an important part of Ankara’s efforts to protect its maritime claims in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The agreement has long been opposed by Greece, which argues that it disregards the maritime rights of Greek islands and undermines its own claims in the region. Egypt has also rejected the arrangement. During a visit to Istanbul on October 23, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty described the agreement as “completely null and void” in a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Despite these differences, the naval exercise demonstrates that disagreements over maritime boundaries have not prevented Ankara and Cairo from developing military and defense industry relations.

The latest exercise and the proposal for joint warship construction point to a gradual expansion of Turkiye-Egypt defense relations. Whether this develops into a formal shipbuilding program will depend on negotiations over the vessels, production arrangements, technology sharing, and contractual terms.

The Sea of Friendship 2026 exercise has provided a platform for both countries to strengthen naval coordination while exploring a broader industrial partnership.