China, Egypt to hold first air force drill as military ties grow: What to know
The exercise scheduled for mid-April comes as Egypt-China ties are growing both militarily and economically despite US pressure on Cairo.
Egypt and China will hold their first-ever joint aerial drill this month, Beijing’s Defense Ministry said on Wednesday, in the latest sign of strengthening military ties.
The Chinese Ministry of National Defense said the People’s Liberation Army will send a detachment to Egypt to participate in a joint air force training exercise. The event will begin in the middle of April and last until early May, the ministry said in a press release.
The ministry credited the exercise with “promoting pragmatic cooperation and enhancing mutual trust and friendship between the two militaries.”
China’s official news outlet Xinhua said the training will be the first between the two countries’ air forces.
