United States Africa Command

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Beginning of the Phoenix Express 2022 exercise in Tunisia

Civilian and military leaders pose for a group photo during the opening ceremony of the Phoenix Express 2022 exercise at the La Goulette naval base in Tunis, Tunisia, May 24, 2022. Phoenix Express 22, led by the forces U.S. Naval Operations in Africa, is a maritime exercise designed to enhance cooperation among participating nations in order to increase maritime safety and security in the Mediterranean.

Photo by: MC1 Class Debra Thomas

Exercise Phoenix Express 2022, the 17th edition of the North African maritime exercise, takes place from May 23 to June 3, 2022, in Tunis, Tunisia, and throughout the Mediterranean Sea.

The exercise focuses on regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness, information sharing practices and operational capabilities to enhance efforts to promote safety and security in the Mediterranean Sea and the territorial waters of the countries of North Africa participants. Thirteen nations will participate in the exercise.

“Tunisia regularly demonstrates its commitment and willingness to partner with the United States in our shared vision of peace and maritime stability in North Africa and the surrounding Mediterranean waters,” said Admiral Robert Burke, Commander of US Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Allied Joint Forces. Command of Naples. “For the past six months, aircraft from the Harry S. Truman carrier strike group have flown with Tunisian aircraft to conduct strike training on their ranges, and United States Navy ships have sailed together in bilateral exercises with the Tunisian Navy Exercise Phoenix Express is another opportunity to continue to strengthen our partnership and readiness with Tunisia by training together.

The exercise will take place at the La Goulette naval base in Tunis and will include a preparatory phase in port as well as five days of maritime security training in the Mediterranean Sea. The at-sea portion of the exercise will test the capabilities of North African, European and United States maritime forces to respond to irregular migration and to combat the illicit trafficking and movement of illegal goods and materials.

“Phoenix Express demonstrates the importance of our joint defense cooperation with Tunisia and regional maritime partners to ensure the safety and security of the Mediterranean and support global trade. We are proud of our continued collaboration with Tunisia , a major non-NATO ally, to enhance interoperability as we work together to address mutual regional security concerns,” said Natasha Franceschi, Acting Chargé d’Affaires of NATO. United States Embassy in Tunisia.

Participating countries in Phoenix Express 2022 are Algeria, Belgium, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia, United Kingdom and United States.

Phoenix Express is one of three regional maritime exercises executed by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa as part of an overall strategy to provide opportunities for African forces and international partners to work together to address security challenges maritime.