Phoenix Express 26 naval exercise held in Tunisia

The multilateral naval exercise ‘Phoenix Express 26’ is currently being held in Tunisia from September 6 to 18, organized in cooperation with the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). The exercise involves approximately 400 military personnel and observers from 13 countries, including Tunisia, the United States, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Malta, Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, and Georgia.

Vice Admiral Jeffrey Anderson, commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet, highlighted the strength of the Tunisian-American partnership and noted that the exercise contributes to the security and stability of the Mediterranean, a region through which roughly 15% of global maritime traffic passes. The training aims to address common maritime threats such as terrorism, organized transnational crime, human trafficking, smuggling, and drug trafficking.

Tunisian Navy Commodore Rjab Gar Ali stated that the exercise focuses on developing operational capabilities to combat illicit maritime activities and enhancing coordination between Mediterranean navies. This year’s edition includes theoretical and practical training on unmanned surface vessels, maritime intelligence, ship inspections, and search and rescue operations. The maritime phase involves the participation of five military vessels.