Military Spox Reveals Objectives of 3rd of July Naval Base

The Egyptian Armed Forces are keen to develop and modernize the naval forces and increase their ability to secure the 2,936 km-long coasts on the Mediterranean and Red Sea, according to Military Spokesperson Staff Colonel Gharib Abdel Hafez.

“The armed forces are keen to provide the naval forces with the latest weapons and equipment,” Abdel Hafez told anchor Ahmed Moussa in televised statements on Sada El Balad TV channel on Sunday.

The armed forces during the last period established a number of military bases, most notably:

1 - Mohamed Naguib Military Base in July 2017

2 - Sidi Barani Military Base

3- Berenice Military Base in January 2020 to protect and secure the Red Sea coast and the southern strategic direction to prevent any threats that might affect national security.

The 3rd of July Naval Base

The opening of the 3rd of July Naval Base on Saturday was a new addition and an extension of the chain of development and modernization of the armed forces, which included the supply of the latest weapons, equipment, and modern technology.

“The 3rd July Naval Base is an integrated base in which all the elements of training and high combat ability are united,” Abdel Hafez noted. 

The strategic location of the base in the Gargoub area on the Mediterranean coast between the cities of Matrouh and Sidi Barani and at a distance of about 179 miles from Alexandria aims to serve both the northern and western strategic direction. 

As for the goals of the establishment of the 3rd of July base, the military spokesperson asserted that it shall prevent infiltration and smuggling across the Egyptian coasts, carry out search and rescue missions, prevent illegal immigration and secure the state's vital objectives and economic gains.

“The official inauguration coincided with the activities of the maneuver (Qader 2021), which reflected the readiness of our forces, sophisticated training and high combat readiness to achieve security and stability, and preserve the economic wealth of the Egyptian state, in order to confront the challenges facing the Egyptian state on all strategic directions,” Abdel Hafez manifested.

He disclosed that the armed forces are working to “implement a comprehensive strategy to develop and modernize all major branches, keeping pace with the rapid development of fighting and persifying the sources of armament to enable it to carry out all tasks under various circumstances on all strategic directions.”

“Over the past period, the armed forces participated in many joint maneuvers and exercises between them and with some brotherly and friendly countries,” he added.

In light of the growing relations of partnership and military cooperation between the Egyptian armed forces and friendly and brotherly countries, during the year 2020-2021, the Egyptian armed forces carried out 38 joint training. 

“20 joint/passing training were carried out in the last year despite the coronavirus pandemic while all precautionary measures were taken,” the spokesperson said.