Texas Air Guard bolsters military ties with Egypt

EL ALAMEIN – The enduring military and strategic partnership between Egypt and the United States was on full display this week as the Texas Air National Guard returned to participate in the El Alamein Airshow for the second time, following a successful appearance in 2024.

Brigadier General Joshlin Lewis of the Texas Air National Guard highlighted the significance of the deployment, emphasising the role of ongoing bilateral co-operation in reinforcing regional stability.

We are here to show our partnership with Egypt,” Brigadier General Lewis said. “It is very good that they were able to have the airshow. Because of events in the region, some of the airshows have been cancelled, but it’s great to see all of their partners here and able to meet with our partners. So we’re happy to be here.”

The participation falls under the auspices of the Department of Defence State Partnership Programme, which officially paired the Texas National Guard with Egypt in 2020. The framework facilitates continuous joint training, subject-matter exchanges, and personnel visits between Texas and Egyptian forces.

“We have a long history of working together, and this is an opportunity for us to continue to build that partnership,” Lewis noted. He pointed out that long-standing unit assignments allow service members to build multi-year relationships with their Egyptian Air Force counterparts. “It’s very important as we think about regional security that we have these partnerships built now, so that if something were to happen, we are not meeting for the first time.”

Beyond military engagements, Brigadier General Lewis shared his impressions of the host location, noting the rapid development visible throughout the North Coast. Having travelled through and stayed near New El Alamein City, he described it as a “very beautiful area” witnessing substantial new infrastructure projects that will undoubtedly attract visitors from around the globe.

Concluding his remarks, Lewis expressed optimism regarding future engagements, confirming that the Texas Air National Guard plans to maintain its active presence at upcoming iterations of the El Alamein Airshow as part of an unwavering commitment to the Egyptian–US alliance.