The Türkiye–Egypt Friendship Sea-2025 naval exercise reached its highlight with the Distinguished Observer Day, held at Aksaz Naval Base in Muğla. During a media briefing aboard TCG Oruçreis, Turkish Navy Captain Ahmet Kaçar emphasized that the exercise was designed to enhance interoperability between the Turkish and Egyptian naval forces while strengthening bilateral military cooperation. He added that the exercise aimed to improve tactical coordination in surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and air defense warfare (AAW) scenarios.

The exercise began with a port phase on 22–23 September, featuring Special Forces (SAT) training, sessions on cyber defense, artificial intelligence, and the use of unmanned aerial and surface systems in naval operations. This was followed by a sea phase, which included asymmetric threat training, navigation drills, surface and air defense exercises, and anti-submarine warfare operations. Both navies executed multiple scenarios to test command-and-control coordination and real-time engagement capabilities.

The distinguished observer day was attended by Turkish Fleet Commander Admiral Kadir Yıldız and Egyptian Navy Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Mohamed Hassan El-Sherbeny, who jointly observed the exercise from TCG Oruçreis. In one scenario, Turkish troops rappelled onto the ENS Tahya frigate from a helicopter using fast-rope insertion, while Egyptian forces boarded the ship from the sea. After the successful completion of the operation, both crews unfurled the Turkish and Egyptian flags on deck in a symbolic gesture of friendship and cooperation.

Another training segment involved underway replenishment and material transfer between ships sailing side by side — a complex maneuver successfully executed by both navies. The day concluded with a naval and aerial salute and passing ceremony, showcasing the combined capabilities of both fleets.

Friendship Sea-2025 stands out as the first joint Turkish–Egyptian naval exercise in the Mediterranean after 13 years, underscoring a renewed spirit of collaboration and confidence-building between the two nations. The exercise also strengthened mutual proficiency in crisis response, maritime security, and cooperative naval operations within the region.