U.S. Sixth Fleet Commander visits Tunisia for maritime exercises

Admiral Jeffrey Anderson, Commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet, visited Tunisia on September 16-17, 2026, coinciding with the ‘Phoenix Express 2026’ naval exercises. Conducted under the supervision of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), the maneuvers involved forces from thirteen African, European, and American nations. The drills focused on maritime security, information sharing, search and rescue operations, and vessel interception.

Parallel to these exercises, a U.S. contract valued at approximately $1 million was awarded for the third phase of the Maritime Excellence Center in Bizerte. This facility serves as a training hub for naval forces and special operations, featuring specialized infrastructure for close combat training, equipment storage, and maritime landing exercises.

Experts suggest the visit and ongoing cooperation signal an expansion of the Tunisia-U.S. partnership. Beyond traditional counter-terrorism, the focus has shifted toward Mediterranean security, intelligence coordination, maritime domain management, and addressing transnational organized crime, including smuggling and migration. While the cooperation strengthens regional capacity building, analysts note that Tunisia maintains its strategic independence and does not seek to host permanent foreign bases or become a theater for great power competition.