Foreign naval ships arrived in Tunisia on Saturday 15, 2021, to participate in the naval military exercise Phoenix Express 2021 in Tunis, Tunisia, and throughout the Mediterranean Sea.
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The Algerian National Navy’s Djebel Chenoua-class corvette Hassan Barbiear arrives in Souda Bay, Greece, for exercise Phoenix Express 2018, April 30. (Picture source U.S. DoD)
Exercise Phoenix Express 2021 is sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and designed to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness (MDA), information-sharing practices, and tactical interdiction expertise to enhance the collective operational efforts to achieve safety and security in the Mediterranean Sea.
This year’s exercise control group will be hosted at the La Goulette naval base in Tunis, Tunisia. The at-sea portion of the exercise will test North African, European, and U.S. maritime forces’ abilities to respond to irregular migration and to combat illicit trafficking and the movement of illegal goods and materials.
Thirteen nations will operate together through May 28 to increase regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness, information-sharing practices, and operational capabilities, enhancing efforts to promote safety and security in the Mediterranean Sea and territorial waters of participating North African nations.
The 13 nations scheduled to participate in Phoenix Express 2021 include Tunisia, Algeria, Belgium, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Spain, and the United States.
Exercise Phoenix Express is one of three regional maritime exercises executed by U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF) as part of a comprehensive strategy to provide collaborative opportunities amongst African forces and international partners that addresses maritime security concerns.
U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.
