Egypt's new naval base on Mediterranean coast commissioned in presence of UAE Crown Prince

Cairo: – Egypt has commissioned its new naval base in the Mediterranean Sea region to ensure safe passage of the freight carriers through the area. It is claimed that this maritime base is strategically significant for the freight movement through the Mediterranean Sea. At the same time, the media is claiming that this Egyptian naval base is a warning for its adversaries. Meanwhile, Crown Prince of United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, was present for the function held for the naval base.

Currently, there are four Egyptian naval bases, three in the Mediterranean Sea region and one in the Red Sea. But this new maritime base will prove to be strategically very important. An airstrip also has been built on this naval base. This new base is situated to the west of the city of Alexandria, in northern Egypt.

This naval base near the Libyan border will play an important role in monitoring the Turkish naval movements. Last year, when the civil war flared up in Libya, Turkey had smuggled huge arms hauls through the Mediterranean Sea for the extremist regime in Libya. At the same time, Turkey had also deployed mercenaries and terrorists.

During the conflict, Turkey had attempted to dominate this essential marine freight route in the Mediterranean Sea. Repercussions of this were felt on the international level. The United States, France, the United Kingdom, Greece, Cyprus, along with Egypt and UAE, had denounced the Turkish activities in the Mediterranean Sea. Turkey accused Egypt and UAE of assisting Libyan rebel leader General Khalifa Haftar in the conflict against the Libyan government. Although currently, a coalition government has been formed in Libya, it is accused that the Turkish mercenaries are still present in Libya. At the same time, the Turkish military movements are continuing in the Mediterranean Sea. Against this background, the media in the gulf is claiming that this new naval base is strategically critical and is a warning for Turkey. Therefore, the presence of UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed at the maritime base function becomes very suggestive.