Bright Star is designed to strengthen ties between the Egyptian Armed Forces and the United States Central Command and demonstrate and enhance the ability of the Americans to reinforce their allies in the Middle East in the event of war. These deployments usually are centered at the large Cairo West Air Base. Since the liberation of Kuwait in Operation Desert Storm, the exercises have grown to include as many as 11 countries and 70,000 personnel. Nations joining Bright Star exercises have included the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Netherlands, Jordan, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.