The joint and combined military exercise is a benchmark of Egypt-US relations, yet it also raises questions about the two countries’ long-term strategic alignment
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A US Air Force B-1B bomber is followed by fighter planes above one of the three Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt, on October 25, during a demonstration flight as part of the Bright Star 99 military exercises.
Relations between Egypt and the US span numerous key initiatives. Few, however, compare to the Bright Star exercise, which began on 28 August at the Mohamed Naguib Military Base in Egypt’s Western Desert.
The military manoeuvre has been held biennially since 1980, almost a year after Egypt signed a peace deal with Israel. This year, the joint and combined exercise is taking place at a time when relations between Cairo and Washington are at an unprecedented level of tension.
At the heart of this tension are the two capitals’ divergent views on the war in Gaza, the right of the Palestinians to an independent state, and evolving geopolitical dynamics in the region.
Egypt has grown increasingly critical of Israel’s war on Gaza, and has actively lobbied for international recognition of a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Cairo has warned against the emergence of a new regional order dominated by an Israel hell-bent on achieving its perceived biblical promise of a Greater Israel.
It has turned down any suggestion that it accept Palestinian refugees from Gaza, which would contribute to the ethnic cleansing of Palestine, especially in response to US President Donald Trump’s much-ridiculed suggestion that it take in Palestinians to pave the way for the redevelopment of the war-devastated territory as a “Riviera of the Middle East.”
At the heart of the tension between Washington and Cairo are their divergent views on the war in Gaza and the right of the Palestinians to an independent state
By sending US military units to Egypt to participate in the exercise, which will last until 10 September, President Trump indicates that there are limits to how far tensions with Egypt will be allowed to escalate. He may also be aiming to reassure Cairo of its strategic value in Washington's Middle East security scheme, despite current tensions.
Nevertheless, this leaves many questions unanswered regarding the future of relations between Egypt and the US, especially if each maintains an uncompromising policy line that runs counter to the interests of the other.
A 'bright' history
Since its launch in 1980, the Bright Star exercise has served as a barometer of Egypt-US relations. In 2013, former US President Barack Obama called off the exercise in protest at the way Egyptian authorities dealt with demonstrators backing the late President Mohamed Morsi.
This followed the exercise's cancellation in 2011 in the wake of the security turmoil that accompanied the downfall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The exercise resumed in 2017, almost eight months after Trump became president of the US for the first time.
Despite recurring vicissitudes in relations between Egypt and the US, including former President Joe Biden's concerns over Cairo's human rights record, Bright Star has taken place biannually ever since.
Saudi Armed Forces Arrive in Egypt for 'Bright Star' Military Exercise.
This year, the exercise brings together close to 8,000 troops from 14 states. Around 29 other countries, including Arab nations, will participate as observers. They will witness tactical field training across air, land, and sea, as well as special forces operations, with the objective of enhancing military cooperation and strengthening regional stability. The exercise also aspires to improve readiness and interoperability and strengthen relationships between the participating militaries.
For Egypt, which possesses the most powerful military in the Arab world, the Bright Star exercise serves a series of important strategic, military, political, and economic objectives. It provides training in modern warfare, enhances its military readiness, improves interoperability with US and allied forces, and helps to address regional security threats.
It also reinforces Egypt's long-standing military and diplomatic relations with the US, which has been providing Cairo with significant military aid (approximately $1.3bn annually) since 1979. It boosts Cairo's role as a crucial US partner, too, fostering cooperation on regional stability and security.
In addition, it elevates Egypt's status as a regional leader, showcasing the army's prowess and its central role in promoting security and order, while facilitating access to advanced military technology, training, and equipment. This satisfies Egypt's struggle to modernise its military against a background of growing internal and regional security threats.
With civil war in Sudan, a destabilised and fragmented Libya, and war in Gaza, Egypt views Bright Star as an opportunity to gain practical experience in addressing these threats on its borders.
The exercise also signals Egypt's alignment with Western powers, bolstering the nation's geopolitical standing and making the country more attractive to foreign investment—an imperative for Egypt as it seeks to create jobs for its growing workforce and increase production for its burgeoning population.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) shakes hands with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty at the State Department in Washington, DC, on July 30, 2025.
Solidifying a strategic foothold
For the US, the exercise solidifies its strategic partnership with Egypt, fortifies trust and cooperation, and ensures vibrant bilateral relations. It also aligns with the US's stated goal of combating terrorism and stabilising critical choke points, such as the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, through which a significant portion of global trade passes.
In addition, it enhances its ability to conduct coordinated multinational operations, provides US troops with realistic training in diverse environments—with a focus on urban warfare, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance—and ensures that US forces remain prepared for operations in the Middle East and North Africa.
By leading the joint and combined exercise, the US reinforces its regional leadership role, providing it with the opportunity to counter the growing influence of adversaries such as Russia and China.
Questions for the future
While Bright Star highlights the importance Washington attaches to relations with Cairo, it raises questions about the future.
The US views Egypt as a critical regional ally due to its commitment to the 1979 peace treaty with Israel, its counterterrorism efforts, and its ability to safeguard passage through the Suez Canal. Egypt's role as a mediator in talks between Israel and Hamas reinforces this view.
This might explain why President Trump has so far refrained from anything that might jeopardise the US's relationship with Cairo, including slashing its annual military aid. In all likelihood, military support will continue to flow unhindered, with Washington striving to ensure that Egypt continues to play an effective role in supporting US access to air and naval routes, most specifically for countering Iran and its allied militias.
Bright Star signals Egypt's alignment with Western powers, making it more attractive to foreign investment
For the US, the exercise solidifies its strategic partnership with Egypt, fortifies trust and cooperation, and ensures vibrant bilateral relations. It also aligns with the US's stated goal of combating terrorism and stabilising critical choke points, such as the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, through which a significant portion of global trade passes.
In addition, it enhances its ability to conduct coordinated multinational operations, provides US troops with realistic training in diverse environments—with a focus on urban warfare, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance—and ensures that US forces remain prepared for operations in the Middle East and North Africa.
By leading the joint and combined exercise, the US reinforces its regional leadership role, providing it with the opportunity to counter the growing influence of adversaries such as Russia and China.
Questions for the future
While Bright Star highlights the importance Washington attaches to relations with Cairo, it raises questions about the future. The US views Egypt as a critical regional ally due to its commitment to the 1979 peace treaty with Israel, its counterterrorism efforts, and its ability to ensure the safe passage of vessels through the Suez Canal. Egypt's role as a mediator in talks between Israel and Hamas reinforces this view.
A tug boat approaching the city of Tawfiq at the southern end of the Suez Canal before exiting into the Red Sea on August 25, 2021.
This might explain why President Trump has so far refrained from anything that might jeopardise the US's relationship with Cairo, including slashing its annual military aid. In all likelihood, military support will continue to flow unhindered, with Washington striving to ensure that Egypt continues to play an effective role in supporting US access to air and naval routes, most specifically for countering Iran and its allied militias.
Nevertheless, there are factors at play that could wreck this relationship. Egypt's growing military ties with China and Russia, primarily driven by its frustration over US arms restrictions, are one such factor. Cairo's refusal to take in Palestinians could be another, straining relations with Washington, particularly if President Trump pushes harder for his Riviera plan, leveraging Egypt's economic vulnerabilities and reliance on US aid.
The overarching plan adopted at the Arab League summit in March for early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza may fuel tensions between Cairo and Washington. This plan strives to rebuild the devastated territory for the Palestinians, in direct contrast to President Trump's plans for the territory.
This is why it is safe to assume that the long-term stability of Egypt-US relations will primarily hinge on the ability to balance strategic goals with each other's needs, interests, and regional ambitions. Whether the two countries can do this remains to be seen in the months and years ahead.
