Turkey and Egypt begin joint naval exercise in Alexandria

Turkey and Egypt have launched a joint naval exercise titled "Dostluk Denizi-2026" (Sea of Friendship) in Alexandria, scheduled to run from November 4 to November 9, 2026. The drill marks a deepening of military cooperation between the two nations following a 13-year hiatus, with the previous joint exercise held in September 2025 at the Aksaz naval base in Turkey. The Turkish corvette TCG Burgazada arrived at the Egyptian port on November 1 to participate in the maneuvers, which include surface operations, anti-submarine warfare, air defense training, and special underwater operations (SAT).

Alongside the military collaboration, diplomatic efforts are underway as Ankara attempts to negotiate maritime border agreements with Cairo in the Eastern Mediterranean. Reports from the pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak suggest that Turkey is proposing a maritime delineation plan that would grant Egypt over 15,000 square kilometers of additional maritime jurisdiction compared to a potential agreement with Greece. This initiative aims to reshape regional power dynamics in the Mediterranean. Despite ongoing tensions regarding the Turkey-Libya memorandum of understanding, both countries are maintaining this parallel channel of communication to address their shared maritime interests.