Aftandilian in The Arab Weekly on Bright Star Exercises
Gregory Aftandilian, Lecturer at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, published a recent Op-Ed on the upcoming United States-Egypt Bright Star exercises that will focus on counter-terrorism, specifically detecting and eliminating roadside bombs and ensuring border security.
Aftandilian’s Op-Ed, entitled “Renewed Bright Star Exercises Could be a Plus for Both Egypt and the US,” was published in The Arab Weekly on August 27, 2017.
From the text of the article:
After being cancelled for several years, the Pentagon recently announced that the US-Egypt Bright Star military exercises would resume in September. The Obama administration stopped them in response to concerns over human rights and democratisation in Egypt under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The Trump administration announced, however, that it would partially suspend military and economic aid to Egypt over similar human rights concerns, putting a cloud over Bright Star.
Unlike previous Bright Star exercises — usually held every two years from 1980-2009 — that involved the participation of military units from many countries, these exercises would involve US, Egyptian and — for the first time — a small number of Sudanese troops. The exercises were expected to be smaller in scope than in past years and would focus on counterterrorism, specifically detecting and eliminating roadside bombs and ensuring border security.
If the exercises occur, it will be a plus for both the United States and Egypt.
For the United States, it signals support for Egypt in its fight against such groups as Sinai Province, which is affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) and has attacked Egyptian security forces for several years. Egypt also faces threats from terrorists infiltrating its borders with Libya and Sudan.
US assistance to Egypt in defeating terrorist groups could boost the generally negative US image in Egypt.
Aftandilian spent over 21 years in government service, most recently on Capitol Hill where he was foreign policy adviser to Congressman Chris Van Hollen (2007-2008), professional staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and foreign policy adviser to Senator Paul Sarbanes (2000-2004), and foreign policy fellow to the late Senator Edward Kennedy (1999).