The Armed Forces of Egypt are the largest in the African continent, in the Arab world and one of the largest in the world (ranked 13th), which consists of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Air Defense Command of Egypt. In addition, Egypt maintains large paramilitary forces. The Central Security Forces and the Border Guard Forces are under the control of the Ministry of the Interior. The National Guard is under the control of the Ministry of Defense.
To reinforce stability and moderation in the region, Egypt has provided military assistance and training to a number of African and Arab nations. Although not a member of NATO, Egypt remains a strong military and strategic partner and is a participant in the NATO Mediterranean Dialogue forum. The Egyptian army is one of the strongest in the region, and it gives Egypt the military regional supremacy only comparable to Israel, as well as being the first military power in Africa. Egypt is one of the few countries in the Middle East with satellite recognition and has launched another in 2007.
