Cairo: The Egyptian-American joint military exercise, Bright Star 2025, has kicked off at the combat training fields of the Mohamed Naguib Military Base and several Egyptian naval and air bases, the Egyptian military spokesman said on Saturday.According to State Information Service Egypt, the training will run until 10 September and features the participation of 44 countries. Out of these, 14 countries are contributing over 8,000 troops, while the remaining 30 are participating as observers. The exercise also involves units from the Egyptian civil police, as well as representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross and NATO.During the opening ceremony, Chief of the Armed Forces Training Authority Major General Sherif El-Arayshi conveyed the greetings of Minister of Defence and Military Production General Abdel-Meguid Saqr, and Chief-of-Staff of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa, to the participating troops. He highlighted the importance of Egypt-US drill Bright Star, descri bing it as one of the largest joint military exercises in the region due to its role in strengthening military ties among all participating nations.US Brigadier General Patrick Clare expressed appreciation for the extensive efforts of the Egyptian Armed Forces in hosting the large-scale exercise. He noted that the high level of planning and preparation makes the exercise an ideal opportunity for exchanging expertise and exploring various military cultures among participants. Several participants also voiced their appreciation to Egypt for the warm welcome and hospitality, emphasizing the exercise as a platform for exchanging experiences and strengthening military cooperation.The opening ceremony was attended by senior commanders of the Egyptian Armed Forces, leaders of the participating forces, and media professionals. During the event, leaders of the participating forces toured a military exhibition, while military bands performed shows to mark the launch of the exercise. On the sidelines, Egyptian and A merican paratroopers executed a display that included a parachute jump over the Giza Pyramids, attended by senior military leaders and US Ambassador to Egypt Herro Mustafa Garg.Launched in 1980 as a bilateral US-Egypt exercise, Bright Star has since evolved into a multinational exercise aimed at reinforcing regional security and strengthening military cooperation.