13 countries are participating in Exercise Phoenix Express 2021. Credit: US Navy.
The North African joint military maritime exercise, Phoenix Express, has started in Tunis, Tunisia.
The US Navy has announced the start of the 16th iteration of North African multinational joint military maritime exercise ‘Phoenix Express 2021’, Naval-Technology reports.
The drill is being conducted in Tunis, Tunisia, and across the Mediterranean Sea.
Exercise Phoenix Express is one of the three regional maritime drills executed by US Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF).
The exercise, which will run until 28 May, will see the participation of 13 nations. It will provide an opportunity to increase regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness, information-sharing practices, and enhance operational capabilities, the same source adds.
It is aimed at enhancing efforts to promote ‘safety and security in the Mediterranean Sea’ and ‘territorial waters of participating North African nations’.
The countries taking part in the exercise are Tunisia, Algeria, France, Greece, Belgium, Egypt, Italy, Mauritania, Libya, Malta, Spain, Morocco, and the US.
Phoenix Express exercise director captain Harry Knight said: “Exercises such as Phoenix Express 2021 increase interoperability among participating nations in order to increase maritime security and sustain global commerce.
“Our maritime exercises allow us to develop our skills with our regional partners by learning from each other and working together.”
TunisianMonitorOnline
