India Participates in Multilateral ‘Exercise Bright Star 2025’ in Egypt with Over 700 Personnel.
International
India has deployed more than 700 personnel from the Indian Armed Forces and Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) to participate in Exercise Bright Star 2025, a major multilateral defence drill being conducted from August 28 to September 10, 2025, at Mohamed Naguib Military Base in Matrouh Governorate, Egypt.
- The current edition of Exercise Bright Star is the 19th in the series and is recognized as one of the largest and longest-running multinational defence exercises in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. India’s participation highlights its commitment to regional stability, security, and enhanced defence cooperation with global partners.
- Exercise Bright Star was initially launched in 1980 as a bilateral drill between the United States of America (USA) and Egypt, following the Camp David Accords of 1978. Over the years, it expanded into a multilateral format with the participation of countries such as France, United Kingdom (UK), Germany, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- This year’s edition will witness the participation of 43 nations, with 13 countries deploying around 7,900 troops, while nearly 30 countries will send military observers. The exercise will include tri-service components involving the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with training focused on joint planning, live-fire demonstrations, subject matter exchanges, and operational coordination.
Main Point :- (i) India’s contingent for Bright Star 2025 includes personnel from the Indian Army (IA), Indian Navy (IN), and Indian Air Force (IAF), supported by the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff.
(ii) The Indian side will conduct joint drills with partner nations, covering operational planning, short-duration missions, counter-terrorism strategies, and humanitarian assistance operations.
(iii) In the previous edition held in 2023, India participated for the first time by deploying around 550 tri-service personnel. With the upgraded contingent size in 2025, India’s role reflects its growing strategic engagement with partner countries and its aspiration to build stronger military-to-military ties within the multilateral defence framework.
About Egypt
Capital: Cairo
President: Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
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