The joint military exercise between the UAE and French forces, dubbed “Gulf 2016”, started in the UAE on Wednesday as part of the common defense treaty signed by the two countries, UAE national news agency WAM reported.

For several days, the forces from both countries will engage in training to enhance skills of joint operations and to upgrade inter-troop co-ordination and combat capabilities.

The “Gulf 2016” is one in a series of joint exercises which was launched in 1996 and is conducted once every four years, as part of the co-operation agreement which was signed in 1995.

A contingent of French armed forces arrived in the UAE Monday to take part in the joint military exercises.

Gulf 2016 is part of the scheduled exercises in the UAE Armed Forces’ calendar for joint training with the armed forces of brotherly and friendly nations.