China and Egypt Conduct First-Ever Joint Military Drill Near Israeli Border

In a significant shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics, China and Egypt launched their first joint military exercise near the Israeli border, a move closely watched by Israeli defense officials. The drill, titled “Eagles of Civilization 2025,” began Sunday at Wadi Abu Rish Air Base, about 100 kilometers west of the Gulf of Suez, and is scheduled to run through mid-May.

The operation involves advanced Chinese J-10C fighter jets, KJ-500 early warning aircraft, and refueling planes, alongside Egyptian MiG-29s, making it the first overseas deployment of China’s KJ-500, a strategic asset comparable to Russia’s A-50.

Chinese and Egyptian defense ministries described the drill as a move to “deepen military cooperation and trust”, while Israeli observers and Western analysts see a more complex strategic picture.

“This is a reminder that our partners have options,” said Gen. Joseph Votel, former U.S. CENTCOM commander. “China is positioning itself as a viable military supplier and strategic partner.”

The exercise follows recent joint naval drills involving China, Russia, and Iran in the Persian Gulf signaling Beijing’s growing ambitions to assert itself in a region traditionally under American influence.

For Jerusalem, the implications are serious. Israeli defense officials have long monitored the militarization of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, which, under the Camp David Accords, was supposed to remain lightly armed. This joint drill, near Israel’s southern border, adds a new layer of complexity.

While officially framed as counterterrorism and anti-smuggling training, the presence of Chinese military platforms so close to Israeli territory has sparked concerns over regional power dynamics, and whether Egypt’s military alignment is subtly shifting.

Egypt, still a major recipient of $1.5 billion in annual U.S. military aid, has rejected American proposals to absorb displaced Gazans, instead advancing its own regional initiatives. Its deepening ties with China may reflect Cairo’s desire to diversify partnerships while asserting more independence in defense policy.

As Beijing tests its growing influence, Israel must now navigate a more crowded and unpredictable strategic environment where foreign powers are positioning themselves along its borders, and longstanding assumptions about regional alliances are being quietly rewritten.

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