Tunisia and the United States Strengthen Defense Cooperation with the Launch of Two New Maritime Patrol Boats
The Tunisian Minister of National Defense, Khaled Shili, presided over a ceremony on Thursday morning at the main naval base in La Goulette (northern suburb of Tunis), marking the launch of two new maritime patrol boats, "Tazarka" and "Menzel Bourguiba", which have been integrated into the national navy fleet.
This launch is part of the cooperation between Tunisia and the United States.
The ceremony was attended by the US Ambassador to Tunisia, Joey Hood, the Commander of the 6th American Fleet, as well as high-ranking civil and military officials from both countries, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defense.
On this occasion, the Minister of Defense praised the solidity of the historical relations between Tunisia and the United States, highlighting the strategic and privileged nature of their partnership, based on common interests and mutual respect. He also emphasized the excellent level of bilateral cooperation and the shared commitment to implementing the 2020-2030 roadmap.
While recalling Tunisia's role as a factor of stability in the region, he affirmed the country's willingness to strengthen this cooperation, particularly in terms of operational capacity building, exchange of expertise in military training, and acquisition of specialized equipment.
The Minister specified that these two new patrol boats will effectively contribute to securing Tunisia's maritime borders against growing threats such as human trafficking, smuggling, organized crime, irregular migration, and terrorism.
For his part, the US Ambassador highlighted that this level of defense cooperation illustrates Tunisia's status as a major non-NATO ally of the United States. He emphasized the importance of Tunisia's role in regional security, particularly in combating illicit maritime trafficking, terrorism, and its contribution to air transport in the context of humanitarian missions in Africa.
The Commander of the 6th Fleet stressed the importance of solid partnerships to ensure maritime security, reaffirming the United States' commitment to continuing its collaboration with Tunisia to promote security and stability in the Mediterranean.
