Abu Dhabi: General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, yesterday attended the final day of the joint military exercise Gulf 2012 which was being conducted by the UAE Armed Forces and French forces.
The exercise was part of a series of joint UAE-France military exercises to enhance cooperation and coordination and to exchange military expertise in accordance with the common defence treaty signed by the two countries.
Prior to the start of the exercise on its final day, Shaikh Mohammad listened to a brief on the objectives of the exercise, its stages and the participating forces from both countries.
He then headed to the platform of the final military display of the Gulf 2012 exercise and listened to a presentation on the exercise which began with live ammunition in which major weapons of both countries' armed forces engaged in line with the concept of joint operations.
The exercise also featured an air show of fighter jets and transport aircraft that entered service recently.
Major-General Pilot Rashid Mohammad Al Sa'adi, Chief of the UAE Joint Command and Staff College, said the Gulf 2012 military exercise has nothing to do with the recent regional and international developments.
"There is no relation or link between military training taking place and political events, swings, or instability in the region," he said during a press conference held at the conclusion of the exercise.
The commander of French forces, Vice-Admiral Marin Giller, also said the exercises had "no link to anything happening in the region."
