Egypt Inaugurates a New Military Naval Base In The Eastern Mediterranean
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated Egypt’s newest military base in the Mediterranean, called The “3rd of July” . The base, which is located in the Gargoub region of Egypt’s northwest coast, is reported to have been called The “3rd of July” in honor of Sisi’s 2013 removal of Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Morsi.
The ceremony was attended by Libyan Presidential Council Chairman Mohamed Al-Menfi, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed, senior Egyptian Armed Forces soldiers, as well as many politicians, prominent Arab officials, defense ministers, and chiefs of staff from several countries. Afterwards the crown prince tweeted, “I was pleased to witness this milestone and I’m confident in Egypt’s continued development.”
According to presidential spokesman Bassam Rady, the base, which is the newest Egyptian military base on the Mediterranean Sea, will be in charge of safeguarding Egypt’s northern and western critical borders. The base, according to Rady, aims to protect the country’s economic resources, secure shipping routes, and maintain maritime security through the use of naval surface units, submarines, and aircraft. In addition, the facility provides logistical assistance to Egyptian naval troops in the Red Sea and the Mediterranean in their fight against smuggling and illegal immigration, as well as any other challenges or threats that may develop in the region.
The new Egyptian base can accommodate nearly all Egyptian navy vessels. It covers a 10 million square meter area and includes a 1,000-meter sea pier with a 14-meter water depth. According to the state-run al-Ahram newspaper, the naval facility has an airspace and an operations center, as well as 74 military facilities and a variety of training grounds.
The naval base known as the “3rd of July” is Sisi’s third largest military base since coming to power in 2014. Sisi previously built the “Mohamed Naguib Military Base” near Libya’s western border in July 2017 and the “Bernice” in the Red Sea near Sudan’s southern border in January 2020. The military drill “Qader 2021,” which took place on Saturday, was also held at the new naval facility. El-Sisi and his guests were treated to a demonstration of one of the key exercises, which included a significant number of ships, attack helicopters, and jets.
#المتحدث_العسكرى : المناورة قادر 2021 ( حماية وطن ) . pic.twitter.com/ea1yRaaTOr
— المتحدث العسكري (@EgyArmySpox) July 4, 2021
In addition, two FREMM Bergamini-class GP frigates, one Gowind-class corvette, one Type-209/Mod1400 submarine, one Lürssen 60m offshore patrol vessel, and nine Lürssen OPB-40 patrol boats were officially delivered to the Egyptian Navy during the opening of the naval base.