In a move aimed at strengthening military cooperation and supporting regional security and stability, Lieutenant General Ashraf Atwa, Commander of the Egyptian Naval Forces, recently welcomed Lieutenant General Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Ghafili, Commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, and Major General Abdullah Hassan Al-Sulaiti, Commander of the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces. 

Lieutenant General Ashraf Atwa met with Lieutenant General Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Ghafili, Commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, during the latter’s official visit to Egypt. 

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The high-level discussions centred on various areas of mutual interest, highlighting the importance of coordination and military cooperation between the two countries’ naval forces. Both sides were committed to leveraging bilateral naval capabilities to achieve shared objectives and enhance regional security.

Similarly, during his visit to Alexandria, the Egyptian Naval Forces hosted Major General Abdullah Hassan Al-Sulaiti, Commander of the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces. The meeting aimed to strengthen military cooperation relations and foster the exchange of experiences between the naval forces of Egypt and Qatar

In 2017 the tensions with its Gulf Arab neighbours, the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, led to a trade embargo on Qatar. The embargo lasted for over three years and was lifted in 2021 after Kuwait served as a mediator in the dispute, according to GlobalData’s report on the “Qatar Defence Market 2023-2028“.

The discussions explored avenues for collaboration, highlighting the significance of joint training exercises, knowledge sharing, and leveraging each other’s naval capabilities.

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During the visits, the commanders could tour several naval units and familiarize themselves with the latest training and armament systems employed by the Egyptian Naval Forces. This exchange of information and experiences is a testament to the longstanding and robust ties between Egypt and its friendly nations.

As Egypt plays a vital role in regional security, the meetings with the Royal Saudi Naval Forces and the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces further solidify its commitment to fostering strong partnerships and cooperation with neighbouring countries.

Such collaborative efforts contribute to maintaining the region’s peace, stability, and prosperity.

According to GlobalData’s report on the “Saudi Arabia Defence Market 2022-2027“, apart from the original six Arab countries in the Persian Gulf region, Saudi Arabia has also developed close bilateral ties with other Arab states in the Middle East such as Morocco, Sudan, Jordan and Egypt.

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