Bright Star-25: The United States and Egypt gathered 40 countries for the largest exercises in the region

Where and how the exercises started

On August 28, the official opening ceremony of the Bright Star-25 exercises was held at the Mohamed Naguib military base in Egypt. From that moment on, a series of large-scale operations began, involving military personnel from all over the world. The base, built on the border with Libya, was not chosen by chance — it is one of the largest in North Africa and is ideal for large-scale maneuvers.

This is no longer just a bilateral exercise between the United States and Egypt. This is a global event that over the years has become one of the key elements of military diplomacy in the Middle East.

Why does the United States need such large-scale games

The Central Command of the US Armed Forces (CENTCOM), responsible for the Middle East, Africa and part of Asia, sees the Bright Star not just as a training exercise, but as a tool for strengthening alliances. The exercises show that the United States remains engaged in the region, supports strategic partners and is ready to act together.

For Egypt, this is a confirmation of the status of a key player. For the United States, it is an opportunity to keep the threads of influence without deploying large forces on a permanent basis.

Who is involved — from NATO to Asia

This year, more than 40 countries are involved in the exercises. Among them are NATO members, the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, African countries, and even military personnel from Asia. About 1,800 American military personnel work side by side with colleagues from other armies.

Such a composition is rare. Usually, exercises bring together either Western allies or regional partners. There are both here. This suggests that the Bright Star is no longer just a regional event. It is becoming an international standard for compatibility and interoperability.

Not just shooting, but preparing for real scenarios

The exercises cover everything from field maneuvers to command and staff games. Both conventional combat operations and counteraction to guerrilla formations, terrorist threats, and cyber attacks are being practiced. What matters is not so much the number of shots fired as the quality of the interaction — how orders are transmitted, how actions are coordinated, and how language and technical barriers are resolved.

This is not a rehearsal for war, but a resilience training. Because in a real conflict, the winner is not the one with the most tanks, but the one who knows how to work together better.

Sources

1. U.S. Department of Defense — Bright Star 25 official opening and overview
2. DVIDS — Bright Star 25 multinational exercise details
3. Wikipedia — Exercise Bright Star history and data
4. The Jerusalem Post — Bright Star 25 begins in Egypt
5. U.S. Embassy Egypt — Bright Star exercise information