The newest Egyptian military base on the Mediterranean Sea has been inaugurated by Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. The “3rd of July” Naval Base located in Gargoub area in the country’s northwest coast was unveiled on Saturday.
Presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement, the 3rd of July base, which stretches over 10 million square meters, is Egypt’s largest naval base expected to secure Egypt’s northern and western strategic borders,
In attendance were the head of Libya’s Presidency Council Mohamed Al-Menfi, Abu-Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, as well as senior Egyptian officials including Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly and Minister of Defense and Military Production Mohamed Zaki.
Upon El-Sisi’s arrival, the national anthem was played, 21 rounds fired and the Egyptian flag was raised to celebrate the base’s entry into service.
The naval base will secure the country’s shipping routes, and maintain maritime security using joint teams made of land military units, submarines, and air forces.
Commander of the Egyptian Navy Lieutenant General Ahmed Khaled said at the ceremony, that the centre of operation is part of the overall development strategy for the Armed Forces. “The base is a message of peace and development for the entire region,” he stressed.
The new base took its name from a history associated with eliminating the motives of hateful terrorism and moving towards development and progress, including the tangible interest in the sea after the 30 June Revolution, the navy commander said.
Khaled explained that the base will help protect navigation in the Suez Canal, smuggling and block illegal immigration. A military drill tagged “Qader 2021” followed thereafter.