US, Egypt Begin Exercise Eagle Salute 18
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Clay
| July 29, 2018
RED SEA NAVAL BASE, Egypt --
The U.S. Navy along with Egyptian Naval Force (ENF) commenced exercise Eagle Salute 18 at Red Sea Naval Base in Safaga, Egypt, July 28.
Eagle Salute 18 is a multilateral surface exercise to enhance interoperability and war-fighting readiness, fortify military-to-military relationships and advance operational capabilities of all participating units. The guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) will be representing U.S. 5th Fleet Fleet Task Force 55 at the exercise.
The exercise also incorporates Eagle Response 18, an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and diving exercise, to provide opportunities for participating nations to collaborate on an even wider range of maritime security operations.
“Maritime security is a team sport,” said Capt. Adan Cruz, commodore of U.S. 5th Fleet Task Force 55. “Surface exercises like Eagle Salute allow us to improve our interoperability and enhance mutual maritime capabilities.”
Eagle Salute 18 will commence with a harbor phase at Red Sea Naval Base where ENF and U.S. naval forces will share operational expertise in multiple arenas including missile defense, communications and damage control.
The following surface phase will span several days at sea where ships will work together to accomplish a variety of missions and evolutions to include VBSS, asymmetric attacks, search and rescue, and gunnery exercises.
“We look forward to working with Egypt and other participating nations during this exercise,” said Cruz.
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command conducts more than 20 bilateral and multilateral exercises with partner nations throughout the region each year. Exercise Eagle Salute is one of numerous exercises vital to the U.S. Navy's theater security cooperation efforts in building and enhancing solid regional and international relationships.