Egypt, Greece and Cyprus launched Nov. 3 a new set of joint air-to-air military exercises, codenamed Medusa 9, to counter “potential threats in the Mediterranean,” according to the Egyptian Ministry of Defense.

The spokesman for the Egyptian Armed Forces, Col. Tamer al-Rifai, said in a press statement Nov. 3, “Within the framework of the annual plan of joint exercises carried out by the armed forces to strengthen and support military cooperation with brotherly and friendly countries, joint air training activities codenamed Medusa 9 were launched with the participation of elements of the navy and air forces as well as Egyptian, Greek and Cypriot special forces, which lasts for several days at the Mediterranean Operation Theater in Greece.”

The training was at first held between Egypt and Greece on a yearly basis beginning in 2014. Cyprus joined the drill in 2018, participating in both Medusa 6 and Medusa 7 last year. This year’s training comes “in light of the growing partnership and military cooperation between the Egyptian armed forces and brotherly and friendly countries and demonstrates the high level of combat capabilities and training provided by the participating forces to meet the growing challenges in the Mediterranean region,” Rifai added. Medusa 8 was held in April.

Read more: al-monitor