The Armed Forces announced the start of the joint air drills Basic Liaison 2014. The maneuvers are conducted by the Royal Bahrain Air Force with the participation of the Egyptian Air Force along with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Sultanate of Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, the United States and England. Basic Liaison 2014, which is one of the largest and most significant regional air maneuvers, includes joint air combat exercises meant to bolster military cooperation and regional security and stability. Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defense Force Field Marshal Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa lauded the Egyptian participation in the drills. He also praised the Egyptian Air Force as efficient and of high expertise. He said that the drills are to boost the military cooperation and enhance the combat and technical capabilities of the Bahrain Air Force