AbdulQadir7
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The first-ever joint air force exercises between China and Egypt, called "Eagles of Civilization 2025," represent a major turning point in their military collaboration and illustrate Beijing's expanding geopolitical influence in the Middle East and North Africa, Chinese fighter fighters, radar planes, and heavy transport aircraft, including a KJ-500 airborne early warning plane and at least five Y-20 strategic airlifters, have landed in Egypt from mid-April to early-May 2025 in preparation for intricate joint drills with the Egyptian Air Force, this historic military cooperation highlights a subtle but evident struggle for influence at a time when the United States is stepping up its military presence in the area, with two aircraft carrier strike groups carrying out bombings over the Red Sea region.
China presents the exercises as an act of “friendship and trust” that aims to foster mutual understanding and practical cooperation between the two military, but the drills' scope and timing point to a more comprehensive strategic message. China's intention to establish itself as a significant defense partner in a region traditionally controlled by American, Russian, and French arms suppliers is demonstrated by Chinese military aircraft flying over the Red Sea, a region vital to international maritime trade and currently a hotspot of U.S military action, this action shows how China has evolved from a mostly economic player, best known for its port construction and smartphone sales, to a military powerhouse that is posing a threat to Washington's long-standing hegemony.
One particularly important event was the deployment of the Y-20 cargo planes, also known as the "Chubby Girl," The Y-20 can carry troops, armored vehicles and heavy equipment like China's Type 99A tanks thanks to its huge cargo capacity, which allows for quick power projection far from home bases, China's operational capabilities are further enhanced during the drills by the presence of modern airborne early warning and control aircraft, such as the KJ-500, which enables sophisticated command and control over the practice region, these resources show how China's airlift and surveillance capabilities are growing, which is important for long-term operations in far-off regions like the Middle East.
Another benefit of this expanding collaboration is Egypt's increasing interest in Chinese military technologies. In an effort to balance the dynamics of airpower in the region, Cairo is reportedly considering purchasing Chinese fighter jets, such the J-10C, especially Israel's F-35 fleet, a diversification of Egypt's military suppliers is evident in the fact that it already uses Chinese-made trainer planes and has displayed Chinese jets at its defense expos, Egyptian soldiers have the chance to closely watch and train with Chinese aircraft during the combined exercises, which might lead to future arms sales and improved interoperability.
The USS Carl Vinson and USS Harry S. Truman are two U.S aircraft carrier strike groups that are operating against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and defending vital shipping lanes in the Red Sea, where this military conflict is taking place, it seems improbable that the close proximity of these U.S operations to Chinese military exercises is a coincidence, it is a strategic indication that China is threatening the long-standing regional dominance of the U.S military by increasing its influence in an area that is essential to global trade and energy supply.
Chinese growing bilateral security cooperation, joint drills, arms sales and dual-use port facilities show a slow but intentional attempt to increase its regional footprint, even though it is unlikely to build a complete military post in the Middle East anytime soon, a concrete step in this approach is the joint exercises with Egypt, which demonstrate Chinese capacity to work with regional allies and exert influence outside of its immediate neighborhood.
China presents the exercises as an act of “friendship and trust” that aims to foster mutual understanding and practical cooperation between the two military, but the drills' scope and timing point to a more comprehensive strategic message. China's intention to establish itself as a significant defense partner in a region traditionally controlled by American, Russian, and French arms suppliers is demonstrated by Chinese military aircraft flying over the Red Sea, a region vital to international maritime trade and currently a hotspot of U.S military action, this action shows how China has evolved from a mostly economic player, best known for its port construction and smartphone sales, to a military powerhouse that is posing a threat to Washington's long-standing hegemony.
One particularly important event was the deployment of the Y-20 cargo planes, also known as the "Chubby Girl," The Y-20 can carry troops, armored vehicles and heavy equipment like China's Type 99A tanks thanks to its huge cargo capacity, which allows for quick power projection far from home bases, China's operational capabilities are further enhanced during the drills by the presence of modern airborne early warning and control aircraft, such as the KJ-500, which enables sophisticated command and control over the practice region, these resources show how China's airlift and surveillance capabilities are growing, which is important for long-term operations in far-off regions like the Middle East.
Another benefit of this expanding collaboration is Egypt's increasing interest in Chinese military technologies. In an effort to balance the dynamics of airpower in the region, Cairo is reportedly considering purchasing Chinese fighter jets, such the J-10C, especially Israel's F-35 fleet, a diversification of Egypt's military suppliers is evident in the fact that it already uses Chinese-made trainer planes and has displayed Chinese jets at its defense expos, Egyptian soldiers have the chance to closely watch and train with Chinese aircraft during the combined exercises, which might lead to future arms sales and improved interoperability.
The USS Carl Vinson and USS Harry S. Truman are two U.S aircraft carrier strike groups that are operating against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and defending vital shipping lanes in the Red Sea, where this military conflict is taking place, it seems improbable that the close proximity of these U.S operations to Chinese military exercises is a coincidence, it is a strategic indication that China is threatening the long-standing regional dominance of the U.S military by increasing its influence in an area that is essential to global trade and energy supply.
Chinese growing bilateral security cooperation, joint drills, arms sales and dual-use port facilities show a slow but intentional attempt to increase its regional footprint, even though it is unlikely to build a complete military post in the Middle East anytime soon, a concrete step in this approach is the joint exercises with Egypt, which demonstrate Chinese capacity to work with regional allies and exert influence outside of its immediate neighborhood.
