The multinational military exercise Bright Star 25 wrapped up on September 10, 2025, at Mohamed Naguib Military Base in Egypt, marking the end of a two-week endeavor that brought together forces from more than 40 nations. Co-hosted by U.S. Central Command and the Egyptian Armed Forces, this iteration of the biennial event, which dates back to the early 1980s, focused on enhancing interoperability, refining crisis response capabilities, and fostering stronger military partnerships amid evolving regional security challenges. With activities spanning land, air, maritime, cyber, and special operations domains, the exercise provided a platform for participants to tackle realistic scenarios, from humanitarian assistance to counter-terrorism operations, ultimately reinforcing collective defence in the Middle East and North Africa.
The exercise kicked off on August 28 with a formal opening ceremony at the base, where representatives from the United States, Egypt, and allied countries gathered to affirm their commitment to joint training. The day before, Egyptian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ahmed Khalifa conducted a thorough inspection of preparations, touring facilities and engaging with U.S. service members. He received detailed briefings on operational procedures from both American and Egyptian teams, observing ongoing training sessions that set the tone for the collaborative spirit ahead. Khalifa, drawing from his own past involvement in Bright Star exercises, stressed the value of such events in exchanging expertise and building lasting operational advantages. “I would like to emphasise the importance of joint exercises, especially Bright Star, given the large number of participating countries and the exchange of expertise and knowledge they provide to all parties involved,” he remarked during his visit. “Such joint training enhances our future operations.”
At its core, Bright Star 25 encompassed a command-post exercise, field training components, and a senior leader seminar, all designed to address contemporary threats through coordinated efforts. U.S. Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade took a leading role in the command-post segment, emphasising crisis-action planning and joint interoperability. Participants simulated a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief scenario, honing skills in personnel recovery, embassy reinforcement, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear response, and non-combatant evacuation operations. Brigadier General Stephen J. Lightfoot, commanding general of Task Force 51/5, highlighted the brigade’s pride in spearheading this phase alongside Egyptian and coalition partners. “Working shoulder-to-shoulder with regional and coalition partners, TF 51/5 sharpens key mission sets and demonstrates its capability as CENTCOM’s Joint Task Force Headquarters – reassuring allies of its readiness to respond to any crisis,” he stated. This focus on wargaming and contingency validation allowed forces to maintain operational flexibility while rehearsing reserve missions across various warfighting functions.
Field training elements brought the exercise’s practical aspects to the forefront, with live-fire demonstrations, tactical manoeuvres, and specialised drills underscoring the multinational collaboration. A standout event occurred on September 7, when 89 jumpers from 13 nations executed a combined military free-fall operation over the training area. Representing Egypt, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, India, Qatar, Greece, Cyprus, the United States, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, the United Kingdom, and Yemen, the participants parachuted while carrying their national flags, symbolising unity and shared resolve. U.S. contributions included airborne elements from the 5th Special Forces Group and SEAL Team 7, who operated in tandem with international counterparts to bolster interoperability. Preparation for this jump began well in advance, with U.S. and Egyptian special operations forces conducting pre-mission training from August 24 to 27, and the Texas Army National Guard, as Egypt’s State Partnership Program representative, initiating planning shortly after the 2023 exercise. Static line operations followed, featuring the Guard’s 143rd Infantry Regiment alongside Egyptian commandos and rangers for five days of full mission profile training.
Maritime and medical components added layers of realism to the training spectrum. On September 4, sailors from the United States, Greece, India, and Italy participated in a naval medical assistance exercise aboard the Indian Navy’s Talwar-class frigate INS Trikand at Ras Al Tin Naval Base. This session familiarised teams with each other’s first responder techniques and equipment, promoting seamless cooperation in potential real-world naval crises. Air operations included joint refuelling missions, such as those conducted by U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers supporting aircraft over Egypt on August 31, demonstrating logistical prowess in sustained operations.
Counter-terrorism drills formed another pillar of the exercise, with Egyptian and U.S. forces executing a joint operation that simulated storming a terrorist stronghold. This included coordinated parachute insertions, explosive ordnance disposal by engineers, and ground assaults by special forces and police units. The drill culminated in medical and logistical teams restoring essential services to the affected area, showcasing end-to-end response capabilities. Overseen by Lt. Gen. Khalifa, the event drew praise for the troops’ high coordination and readiness, with Khalifa conveying greetings from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Defence Minister General Abdel Mageed Saqr. He noted that such exercises support regional stability and affirm each nation’s right to secure its borders. Senior military officials, attachés, and media from various countries observed, amplifying the exercise’s role in building trust and transparency.
India’s substantial involvement, with over 700 personnel from its army, navy, air force, and integrated defence staff, exemplified the exercise’s global reach. This tri-service contingent engaged in live-firing by all branches, tactical operations, and interoperability drills, contributing to the broad spectrum of activities that also covered cyber defence and special operations. Such participation aligns with Bright Star’s history of expanding scope; for instance, the 2023 edition emphasised similar multi-domain training, yielding improved coalition responses in subsequent regional contingencies, like enhanced coordination during humanitarian efforts in the Eastern Mediterranean.
As Bright Star 25 draws to a close, its outcomes resonate in strengthened military-to-military ties and heightened readiness for modern security scenarios. U.S. Army Maj. Doug Lapel from Special Operations Command Central captured this sentiment: “The Bright Star exercise presents a unique opportunity to incorporate AFRICOM and EUCOM partner nations in one regional CENTCOM exercise, providing a global stage for unified partnership and training, further developing relationships to strengthen regional stability and cooperation.” By simulating complex problems and refining branch plans, participants leave with refined skills that directly translate to real-world operations, such as past contributions to stability missions in the Sahel or Gulf regions. This year’s event, one of the largest in U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility, reaffirms the enduring U.S.-Egyptian alliance while inviting broader international input, paving the way for future iterations to address emerging threats like hybrid warfare and climate-induced crises. With planning already underway for the next cycle, Bright Star continues to serve as a cornerstone for collective security in an increasingly interconnected world.
