CAIRO, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian and the Greek armed forces started on Tuesday their joint air, naval military exercise that will last for several days on the Mediterranean Sea shores, the Egyptian army said in a statement.
Named 'Medusa 2017', the joint exercise involves Egyptian newly bought military equipment including both French-made FREMM multi-mission frigate and Mistral warship as well as a German-built submarine S41, said military spokesman Tamer al-Refaay in the statement.
He pointed out that F16 fighter jets and naval and air forces from Greece also take part in the military exercise, describing relations between the two countries as "distinguished."
"The exercise seeks to boost skills of leaders and officers and exchange expertise between the Egyptian and the Greek sides," Refaay continued, adding that it will contribute to increasing the combat efficiency of the participant forces of both countries.
Egypt and Greece similarly held their "Medusa 2016" joint military aeronautical exercise in December 2016.
Egypt annually holds several military exercises with Arab, African and Western friendly states to boost military cooperation and exchange of expertise with these countries.
Earlier in mid-July, Egypt and France held joint naval military exercise named "Cleopatra 2017" in the Egyptian territorial waters in the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.
