By Mohamed Mahmoud

CAIRO

The Egyptian army on Monday announced the launch of tripartite air/sea military exercises in the Mediterranean Sea with Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration.

“With a view to supporting our distinguished relations and enhancing joint cooperation, the activities of our joint exercises have begun,” Egypt’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.

According to the statement, the drills will continue for several days -- it did not say exactly how many -- along Egypt’s Mediterranean coast.

“Exercises will include a number of activities, including planning/management of joint naval and air-combat maneuvers aimed at improving the skills of our military commanders and officers,” the statement read.

Since 2014, Egyptian, Greek and Greek Cypriot administration leaders have been holding talks aimed at enhancing relations in the fields of gas exploration, counter-terrorism and border demarcation.