TUNIS / Adel al-Thabti / Anadolu

The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) affirmed on Wednesday Washington's commitment to continuing to strengthen military cooperation with Tunisia and expand its scope.

This came during talks between AFRICOM Commander General Dagvin Anderson and Tunisian Defense Minister Khaled al-Sahili at the ministry's headquarters in the capital Tunis, according to a statement from the Tunisian Defense Ministry.

Anderson praised the level of military cooperation between Tunisia and the United States, and the competencies and training capabilities of the Tunisian army, which were highlighted during Tunisia's hosting of the 'African Lion 2026' exercises.

He also expressed the U.S. administration's commitment to continuing to enhance and elevate military cooperation and expand its fields in a way that serves the interests of both countries.

For his part, al-Sahili expressed his satisfaction with the level of joint military cooperation.

He considered that it reflects a long-term strategic partnership that is not limited to logistical and technical support, but also includes training, capacity building, and joint military exercises.

Al-Sahili noted that the success of the 'African Lion 2026' exercises reflected the level of integration and operational readiness of the armed forces in both countries.

He also expressed Tunisia's aspiration to develop the bilateral partnership, particularly in the fields of defense technology transfer, strategic and intelligence cooperation, in line with security challenges and geopolitical changes.

The Tunisian Defense Minister stressed the importance of his country's role as a factor of stability and security in the Mediterranean region, and a regional center for military training and hosting multilateral exercises.

He pointed out that the next session of the Tunisian-American Joint Military Committee, scheduled to be held in the United States in September this year, will be an opportunity to evaluate the course of bilateral military cooperation and set its priorities for the next stage.

Within the framework of defense cooperation between the two countries, Tunisia received in January 2026 a C-130 military transport aircraft, and the United States delivered last June 48 Humvee vehicles to enhance its capabilities in border protection, counterterrorism, smuggling, and organized crime, in addition to an advanced radiation detection system for use in the port of Radès, the country's largest port.