Joint drills to strengthen Mediterranean security
Libya – An analytical report by Senegal’s English-language African Press Agency highlighted joint naval manoeuvres between Libya and the United States, and the participation of US Marines and naval special forces from the Presidential Chief of Staff in drills in the Tunisian city of Bizerte as part of the multinational Phoenix Express 2026 exercise.
Visit, board, search and seizure training
The report, which Al-Marsad followed and whose main analytical points it translated, said the manoeuvres organised in partnership with the Tunisian navy focus on strengthening maritime security in the Mediterranean, and that US and Libyan personnel carried out visit, board, search and seizure drills to improve operational interoperability among forces involved in monitoring and securing maritime areas.
Operational coordination and building expertise
According to the report, the manoeuvres form part of cooperation bringing together partners from Africa, Europe and the United States to strengthen naval capabilities through coordinating operations, improving joint procedures and developing expertise in maritime security missions across the southern Mediterranean.
International participation in a strategic area
The report pointed to the strategic importance of the training area for trade and regional security, saying Phoenix Express 2026 includes naval units from 11 countries in addition to the United States and Libya: Algeria, Belgium, Egypt, France, Georgia, Italy, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey and Britain.
It considered that the breadth of participation reflects partners’ commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation to address maritime security challenges in the region.
