The deposit Zohr - discovered by ENI in 2015 - it represents the largest gas discovery (it is estimated that it contains about 850 billion m³ of natural gas, with the possibility of extraction of 2,7 billion m³ per day) ever made in the Mediterranean. Furthermore, another field was discovered in the Egyptian EEZ in 2018 - Noor - which would seem to be as large as Zohr (if not more).
The possibility of being able to exploit these energy resources has a significant impact on the geopolitics of the eastern Mediterranean. One example is the new collaborative relationships that are being established between Egypt, Israel, Cyprus and Greece, focused on the extraction of natural gas, but aimed, from a strategic point of view, to stem Ankara's interference in the region.
The game is played on the new East-Med submarine pipeline (which will pass through the Italian territory) which should be completed in 2025, with a flow rate of around 10 billion m³ of gas per year; this quantity could satisfy 10% of European energy needs, reducing dependence on Russian gas.
The East-Med pipeline cuts Turkey out, damaging it a lot.
Ankara reacted to this initiative with the economic / military agreement of last November with Tripoli. President Erdoğan is seeking, through an active role in the Libyan and Mediterranean chessboard, to return to being the central subject in the region, redefining the EEZs, especially those that include the sea stretches of Cyprus and Greece, interested in the passage of the East-Med gas pipeline.
The plans of the Turkish Sultan, of course, clash with Egypt, Haftar's supporter in Libya and firmly determined to take an important role in the Mediterranean.
In fact, in recent years, the ENF (Egyptian Naval Force) has been trying to upgrade its fleet, acquiring modern units, enhancing the surface combat device and for amphibious operations.
In 2015, ENF purchased a FREMM from France, renamed Tahya Egypt ("Long live Egypt", photo opening), deprived of equipment and systems that cannot be exported outside the European Union, but still armed with French anti-ship missiles Exocet Block III and MBDA surface-to-air missiles Aster 15.
In addition, 4 US corvettes were acquired Ambassador Mk.III and the Russian missile corvette Molniya / Tarantul III.
As regards the submarine component, however, four German Type 209 submarines are being acquired.
Of particular interest is the purchase of the two French LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock) class Mistral (renamed class Nasser by the Egyptians, photos). Initially intended for the Navy of the Russian Federation, following the European sanctions, they were sold to Egypt in October 2015.
With a full load displacement of 21.000 tons, the Nasser they can carry 16 medium / heavy helicopters, including at least 8 Ka-52K attack helicopters Katran, purchased from Russia - deliveries began in 2017 - together with the Ka.52 version Alligator; about 60 vehicles of various types and 12 M-1A1 Army heavy tanks and 450 fully equipped soldiers.
As can be seen from what has been written, France is a fundamental partner for the modernization of the Egyptian Navy. As early as 2015, the French shipyard Lorient had started building the first of 4 new missile corvettes stealth Gowind 2500; the other three will be built in the Egyptian shipyards.
The weapon systems on board these units allow you to engage multiple targets, in fact they are armed with Leonardo's 76/62 SR cannon, in configuration stealth; 16 cells for the vertical launch of MBDA's VL MICA short-range surface-to-air missiles; 8 anti-ship missiles Exocet MM-40 Block III, in two quadruple implants; two triple systems for MU-90 torpedoes of 324 mm and two remote-controlled machine guns of 20 mm.
In addition to these units, Egypt intends to acquire two more corvettes, German Thyssenkrupp with corvettes seems to be favored Meko 200. Recently there has been a lot of talk about the possibility for Egypt to buy (the figure would be around 2 billion euros) the last two FREMMs (White e Schergat's target) launched for the Navy, however, at the moment, the negotiation is still ongoing.
Photo: web / presidency of the republic of Turkey / SIS
