Egypt, Sudan hold joint military drills as Nile dispute with Ethiopia drags on
The naval drills come at a time of heightened tensions with Ethiopia as Addis Ababa works toward completing the filling of its controversial Nile dam without reaching an agreement with its downstream neighbors.
Naval forces from Egypt and Sudan have completed joint military drills at the naval base of Port Sudan on the Red Sea, amid mounting fears of military escalation in light of the deadlocked talks on a controversial dam Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile, the main tributary of the Nile River.
Besides conducting military exercises, the multi-day drills included lectures and workshops on maritime security, illegal immigration, counter-terrorism and atypical threats, the Egyptian army said in a statement published Monday on Facebook.
“The training falls in the framework of the joint training plan of the armed forces with friendly countries to boost partnerships and military cooperation in various fields,” the statement added.
The training is the latest sign of deepening military ties between Cairo and Khartoum. In March 2021, the Egyptian and Sudanese armies signed a military cooperation agreement covering training and border security. The two armies have conducted several air and ground exercises.
