During the closing stages of the multinational Bright Star 2025 exercise, US military leaders praised Egypt’s role as a key security partner in the region. Speaking to The Egyptian Gazette, Colonel Lee Breard, Director of Exercises for US Central Command, emphasized that the main objective was “to build partnerships and work together to address shared security challenges.”
This year’s exercise brought together over 40 countries and 8,500 troops from the US, Egypt, and allied nations, making it one of the largest joint military events in the Middle East. Breard, who has visited Egypt six times, highlighted both the professionalism of the Egyptian Armed Forces and the strong hospitality extended to participants. “From a military co-operation standpoint, there is no better friend than Egypt in this region,” he said, adding that interoperability—the ability of forces to operate seamlessly together—was the core achievement of Bright Star 2025.
Looking ahead, Breard expressed confidence in the exercise’s future, saying, “I’m already looking forward to Bright Star 2027.”
Lieutenant Colonel Stephen O’Leary of the US Air Force, who has spent 14 months at the US Embassy in Cairo, noted the importance of the event as a platform for strengthening global military co-operation. He also pointed to a major innovation this year—the introduction of a cyber component—which he described as “a very good step forward” in addressing modern threats.
With 44 nations participating, Bright Star 2025 underscored not just the bilateral partnership between Egypt and the US but also the collective commitment of global forces to train, plan, and execute complex maneuvers safely and effectively.
