The United States and Egypt co-hosted Bright Star 2025 from August 28 to September 10 at Mohamed Naguib Military Base, marking one of the largest multinational exercises in the region.

The event gathered military forces from 43 countries to practice humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and crisis response while improving coordination across air, ground, and cyber domains.

Bright Star has been the foundation of US-Egypt military cooperation since 1980.

Co-hosted by US Central Command (CENTCOM) and the Egyptian Armed Forces, the biennial exercise underscores the enduring defense partnership between the two countries and highlights shared priorities in maintaining regional stability.

Now in its 19th edition, Bright Star continues to expand beyond bilateral drills.

This year’s exercise brought together a wide coalition of partner nations for command-post drills, field training, and strategic discussions, reaffirming the importance of collective defense.

Brig. Gen. Stephen Lightfoot, commander of Naval Amphibious Task Force 51 and the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, emphasized the significance of the exercise.

"Bright Star is more than a training event. It is proof of our commitment to stand together -- shoulder to shoulder -- in a world that demands readiness, trust, and resolve," he said.

What Bright Star 2025 included

Bright Star 2025 featured a comprehensive program of command-post exercises (CPX), field training exercises (FTX), combined joint task force planning, and senior leader symposiums.

In the CPX, US, Egyptian, and partner nation staff rehearsed humanitarian assistance and disaster relief scenarios, integrating modern planning tools such as unmanned systems and information operations to accelerate decision-making and enhance coalition coordination.

The FTX took multinational units through live-force drills across land, air, and maritime domains.

Highlights included airborne operations near the Pyramids of Giza and complex urban training at Mohamed Naguib Military Base, where troops practiced operating in demanding environments.

Building readiness and trust

Bright Star has grown into more than a training exercise –it has become a forum for strategic dialogue and trust-building among allies.

By combining live-force training with high-level policy discussions, the exercise strengthens both tactical readiness and long-term defense cooperation.

This year’s focus extended to modern security challenges, including counterterrorism, air and missile defense, crisis response, and complex joint operations.

The integration of new technologies and cross-domain operations ensured that partner nations could adapt quickly to evolving threats.

"Bright Star is a symbol of enduring partnership between Egypt, the United States and our coalition of 43 allied nations," Brig. Gen. Lightfoot said, underscoring its role in regional stability.

Bright Star 2025 showcased how multinational cooperation can enhance readiness, strengthen partnerships, and ensure shared security in an increasingly uncertain world.