Latest news with #EaglesofCivilisation2025
TimesLIVE
06-05-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Chinese fighter jets soar over Egypt in first joint exercises
The sound of Chinese fighter jets roared over the Egyptian pyramids and could echo across the Middle East as Beijing wrapped up military drills with Cairo aimed at chipping away at US strategic influence in the volatile region. China's military on Monday released videos of its fast jets, helicopters and transport planes flying high above the Sahara and hailed inaugural joint air force exercises with Egypt as 'a signal of deepening military ties and shifting alliances'. The joint exercises with one of America's biggest security partners come as Washington increasingly turns inward under President Donald Trump, allowing China to deepen ties across North Africa and invest billions in security projects. 'As Egypt looks beyond its traditional US partnership, a new era of co-operation is taking flight over Cairo's skies,' said a video released by the international division of state broadcaster CCTV as a jet plane takes off into the night. Global Times, a tabloid owned by the newspaper of the ruling Communist Party, People's Daily, said the 'Eagles of Civilisation 2025" drills had established a foundation for potential co-operation between the two countries' militaries at a time when Egypt is trying to upgrade its combat equipment, citing experts.
Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Chinese fighter jets soar over Egypt in first joint exercises
BEIJING - The sound of Chinese fighter jets roared over the Egyptian pyramids and could echo across the Middle East, as Beijing wrapped up military drills with Cairo aimed at chipping away at US strategic influence in the volatile region. China's military on May 5 released videos of its fast jets, helicopters and transport planes flying high above the Sahara and hailing inaugural joint air force exercises with Egypt as 'a signal of deepening military ties and shifting alliances'. The joint exercises with one of the United States' biggest security partners come as Washington increasingly turns inward under President Donald Trump, allowing China to deepen ties across North Africa and invest billions in security projects. 'As Egypt looks beyond its traditional US partnership, a new era of cooperation is taking flight over Cairo's skies,' said a video released by the international division of state broadcaster CCTV, as a jet plane takes off into the night. Global Times, a tabloid owned by the newspaper of the ruling Communist Party, People's Daily, said the 'Eagles of Civilisation 2025' drills had established a foundation for various potential cooperation between the two countries' militaries at a time when Egypt is trying to upgrade its combat equipment, citing experts. Analysts say the 18-day drills also help Egypt assert itself as a major regional power among the Arab nations and North Africa amid growing regional turbulence. 'It's great public diplomacy for (China), particularly in the Middle East,' said Mr Eric Orlander, co-founder of the China-Global South Project. 'It's what brings people in the door for them to sell drones, SAMs, light arms, transports, et cetera. A major regional power needs an Air Force, right?' he said, referring to surface-to-air missiles. Mr Orlander cautioned that switching jet fighter systems is very expensive, and Washington could choose to withhold financial military support from Cairo if it upped its purchases of Chinese technologies. But the US – the primary security partner to Egypt, neighbouring Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states since the late seventies – has made large foreign cuts under Mr Trump that have been keenly felt across the region. And with the Gaza crisis unfolding to its north-east, ethnic violence in Sudan to the south, and political instability in Libya to its west, Egypt finds itself squeezed on three fronts. China has since pledged billions in fresh investment for projects such as satellite manufacturing facilities in Egypt capable of producing military-grade surveillance equipment. Beijing's air force said the drills represented 'a new starting point and a significant milestone in military cooperation between the two countries', in a statement marking their conclusion. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chinese fighter jets soar over Egypt in first joint exercises
By Joe Cash BEIJING (Reuters) - The sound of Chinese fighter jets roared over the Egyptian pyramids and could echo across the Middle East, as Beijing wrapped up military drills with Cairo aimed at chipping away at U.S. strategic influence in the volatile region. China's military on Monday released videos of its fast jets, helicopters and transport planes flying high above the Sahara and hailing inaugural joint air force exercises with Egypt as "a signal of deepening military ties and shifting alliances". The joint exercises with one of the United States' biggest security partners come as Washington increasingly turns inward under President Donald Trump, allowing China to deepen ties across North Africa and invest billions in security projects. "As Egypt looks beyond its traditional U.S. partnership, a new era of cooperation is taking flight over Cairo's skies," said a video released by the international division of state broadcaster CCTV, as a jet plane takes off into the night. Global Times, a tabloid owned by the newspaper of the ruling Communist Party, People's Daily, said the "Eagles of Civilisation 2025" drills had established a foundation for various potential cooperation between the two countries' militaries at a time when Egypt is trying to upgrade its combat equipment, citing experts. Analysts say the 18-day drills also help Egypt assert itself as a major regional power among the Arab nations and North Africa amid growing regional turbulence. "It's great public diplomacy for (China), particularly in the Middle East," said Eric Orlander, co-founder of the China-Global South Project. "It's what brings people in the door for them to sell drones, SAMs, light arms, transports, et cetera." "A major regional power needs an Air Force, right?" he added. Orlander cautioned that switching jet fighter systems is very expensive, and Washington could choose to withhold financial military support from Cairo if it upped its purchases of Chinese technologies. But the United States - the primary security partner to Egypt, neighbouring Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states since the late seventies - has made large foreign cuts under Trump that have been keenly felt across the region. And with the Gaza crisis unfolding to its north-east, ethnic violence in Sudan to the south, and political instability in Libya to its west, Egypt finds itself squeezed on three fronts. China has since pledged billions in fresh investment for projects such as satellite manufacturing facilities in Egypt capable of producing military-grade surveillance equipment. Beijing's air force said the drills represented "a new starting point and a significant milestone in military cooperation between the two countries," in a statement marking their conclusion. (Reporting by Joe Cash; Editing by Saad Sayeed)
Reuters
06-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Chinese fighter jets soar over Egypt in first joint exercises
Summary China, Egypt hold first joint air force exercises Drills showcased China's military hardware, Egypt's regional clout Beijing expanding defence and technology ties in North Africa BEIJING, May 6 (Reuters) - The sound of Chinese fighter jets roared over the Egyptian pyramids and could echo across the Middle East, as Beijing wrapped up military drills with Cairo aimed at chipping away at U.S. strategic influence in the volatile region. China's military on Monday released videos of its fast jets, helicopters and transport planes flying high above the Sahara and hailing inaugural joint air force exercises with Egypt as "a signal of deepening military ties and shifting alliances". here. The joint exercises with one of the United States' biggest security partners come as Washington increasingly turns inward under President Donald Trump, allowing China to deepen ties across North Africa and invest billions in security projects. "As Egypt looks beyond its traditional U.S. partnership, a new era of cooperation is taking flight over Cairo's skies," said a video released by the international division of state broadcaster CCTV, as a jet plane takes off into the night. Global Times, a tabloid owned by the newspaper of the ruling Communist Party, People's Daily, said the "Eagles of Civilisation 2025" drills had established a foundation for various potential cooperation between the two countries' militaries at a time when Egypt is trying to upgrade its combat equipment, citing experts. Analysts say the 18-day drills also help Egypt assert itself as a major regional power among the Arab nations and North Africa amid growing regional turbulence. "It's great public diplomacy for (China), particularly in the Middle East," said Eric Orlander, co-founder of the China-Global South Project. "It's what brings people in the door for them to sell drones, SAMs, light arms, transports, et cetera." "A major regional power needs an Air Force, right?" he added. Orlander cautioned that switching jet fighter systems is very expensive, and Washington could choose to withhold financial military support from Cairo if it upped its purchases of Chinese technologies. But the United States - the primary security partner to Egypt, neighbouring Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states since the late seventies - has made large foreign cuts under Trump that have been keenly felt across the region. And with the Gaza crisis unfolding to its north-east, ethnic violence in Sudan to the south, and political instability in Libya to its west, Egypt finds itself squeezed on three fronts. China has since pledged billions in fresh investment for projects such as satellite manufacturing facilities in Egypt capable of producing military-grade surveillance equipment. Beijing's air force said the drills represented "a new starting point and a significant milestone in military cooperation between the two countries," in a statement marking their conclusion.
South China Morning Post
22-04-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
China's KJ-500 radar aircraft overseas for first time in joint drill with Egypt
China's air force has flown its KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft overseas for the first time in a joint exercise with Egypt , as Beijing seeks closer defence ties with Africa. Advertisement It comes after Egypt confirmed it was using the Chinese HQ-9B long-range surface-to-air missile system earlier this month. The People's Liberation Army sent the KJ-500, along with YU-20 aerial refuelling aircraft and J-10 fighter jets, to Egypt for the joint air drill known as the 'Eagles of Civilisation 2025', which began on Saturday and runs until the middle of May. An advanced radar aircraft, the KJ-500 has sophisticated electronic warfare systems and secure data link capabilities. Its radar dome provides 360-degree coverage and it can detect and track airborne and surface targets at an extended range. Sun Degang, director of the Centre for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, said the KJ-500's flight over the Red Sea marked 'a significant step in China's military modernisation' and showed how it could be used for strategic airlift operations and force projection. Advertisement 'China now possesses not only near-seas defence capabilities but also the capacity to conduct long-range escort missions and consular protection operations,' Sun said, referring to the presence of the KJ-500 in a strategically sensitive area.
