EXERCISE BRIGHT STAR (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 - IR)

Context:  An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent departed for participating in Exercise BRIGHT STAR-23 a biennial multilateral tri-service exercise scheduled to be held at Cairo (West) Air Base, Egypt from 27 August to 16 September 2023.

Exercise Bright Star

• It is a multinational military exercise, held once in two years at Egypt. 
• The first such exercises were held in the year 1980 after signing of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. 
• This is for the first time that IAF is participating in Ex BRIGHT STAR-23 which will also see participation of contingents from the United States of America, Saudi Arabia, Greece and Qatar. 
• The objective of the exercise is to practice planning and execution of joint operations. Besides leading to the formation of bonding across borders, such interactions also provide a means to further strategic relations between participating nations. 
• IAF contingents to flying exercises abroad are thus no less than Diplomats in Flight Suits.