Egypt has solidified its position as a key maritime security partner in the Red Sea region by taking command of Combined Task Force 153 (CTF 153) for the second time on April 9.

Royal Australian Navy Captain Jorge McKee handed over task force leadership to Egyptian Navy Commodore Mohamed Rasmy during a ceremony held in Bahrain and presided over by US Navy Vice Admiral George Wikoff, the commander of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).

CTF 153, established by the US Navy in April 2022, operates as one of five task forces under the CMF, a 46-nation naval partnership that provides security across 3.2 million square miles of international waters.

The task force's mission focuses on international maritime security operations, capacity-building and deterring illicit non-state actors in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait and Gulf of Aden -- some of the world's most important shipping lanes connecting the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal to the Indian Ocean.

These vital choke points carry 10% to 12% of international maritime trade through the Bab al-Mandeb each year.

At its narrowest point, the strait is only 30 kilometers wide, making navigation challenging even during peaceful circumstances.

Egyptian leadership

Egypt first assumed command of CTF 153 in December 2022, becoming the first partner nation to lead the task force when US command was transferred to Egyptian Navy Rear Admiral Mahmoud Abdelsattar during a ceremony in Bahrain.

This initial leadership tenure extended for six months until June 2023, marking the first time the Egyptian Navy assumed command of a CMF operational staff since joining the coalition in 2021.

The Egyptian Naval Forces, the maritime branch of the Egyptian Armed Forces, rank as the 13th-largest navy in the world with 101 active units in their inventory.

Since 1990, Egypt has been purchasing ships from the United States and has acquired approximately 30 vessels for the Egyptian Navy, including minehunters, survey vessels, and patrol boats.

The navy operates US-made ships such as Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates and Osprey-class minehunters.

The navy protects more than 2,000 kilometers of coastline along the Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea, defends approaches to the Suez Canal, and supports army operations.

As part of Bright Star 2025, the Egyptian Navy and potentially CTF 153 personnel are expected to conduct drills to enhance interoperability and regional security, covering both conventional and unconventional warfare scenarios such as counterterrorism and maritime security.

Traditional exercises have also included rescue operations by day and night, as well as training in naval formations and live-fire exercises.