India-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise Cyclone Begins in Egypt

India-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise Cyclone began in Anshas, Egypt, on 22 January. This 11-day bilateral exercise will continue till 1 February.

• The Indian Army Special Forces, comprising 25 personnel, reached Egypt to participate in the 2nd edition of India-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise Cyclone.
• The first edition of the Exercise was conducted in 2023 in India.

About Exercise Cyclone

• Exercise Cyclone is designed to develop bilateral military cooperation and strengthen the bond between two armies through discussions and rehearsing tactical military drills.
• The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) of India is representing the Indian contingent and they are joined by the Egyptian contingent consisting of 25 personnel represented by the Egyptian Commando Squadron and the Egyptian Airborne Platoon.
• The exercise aims to excel both sides with each other’s operating procedures in the backdrop of Special Operations in desert/semi-desert terrain. 
• This exercise is being held under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
• The Exercise will involve the planning and executing of special operations in the conventional domain and will be conducted in three phases. 

Phases of exercise

• The first phase includes Military Exhibitions and Tactical Interactions, 
• The second phase focuses on training on Improvised Explosive Device (IED), counter IED and Combat First Aid. 
• The third and final phase encompasses a Joint Tactical Exercise based on Fighting in Built-up Areas and Hostage Rescue Scenarios.

Importance of Exercise

• The Exercise will provide an opportunity for both the contingents to strengthen their bond and share best practices. 
• This exercise will help achieve shared security objectives and foster bilateral relations between two friendly nations.

Joint Military Exercises by the Indian Army

Joint military exercises help to achieve shared security goals and strengthen bilateral relations between two nations. The table below lists some of the most important bilateral military exercises conducted by the Indian Army.