Beyond war games: Egypt-Saudi naval deal targets Red Sea, Mediterranean threats
A new naval protocol and joint drills underscore Cairo and Riyadh’s bid to institutionalize military coordination amid mounting threats in the Red Sea, Gulf and Mediterranean.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt signed a new protocol in Alexandria on Sept. 1 to expand cooperation on naval security, the latest step in cementing their defense partnership. The agreement, sealed during the visit of Saudi naval commander Maj. Gen. Bahri Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Gharibi, comes as both countries face mounting maritime threats from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.
The deal coincided with Bright Star 2025, the region’s largest multinational military exercise. Yet beyond drills and protocols, the agreement points to bigger questions about Riyadh’s naval ambitions, Cairo’s modernization drive and how their partnership shapes the shifting balance of power across contested waterways.
The Sept. 1 protocol signed in Alexandria establishes a framework for expanded joint training, regular officer exchanges and coordinated naval operations in shared theaters such as the Red Sea and Eastern Mediterranean. It also commits the two navies to strengthen command-and-control interoperability, enhance cooperation on logistics and maintenance and conduct recurring port visits and bilateral exercises.
Particular emphasis was placed on rising concerns such as maritime counterterrorism, amphibious operations and safeguarding commercial shipping lanes. By codifying these priorities, the protocol turns ad hoc cooperation into a structured and predictable partnership.
