The 19th iteration of Exercise Phoenix Express concluded on 15 November 2024, following 12 days of joint maritime security operations training in Tunisia and the Southern Mediterranean Sea.
The event, hosted by the U.S. Sixth Fleet and Tunisian Naval Forces, brought together naval forces from North Africa, Europe, and the United States to enhance cooperation and refine skills critical to regional maritime security.
U.S. Navy Captain Harish Patel, exercise director, highlighted the event’s focus on improving communication and operational coordination, saying the exercise utilised the multinational communication centre (MNCC) to strengthen connections between participating nations.
Vice Admiral J.T. Anderson, Commander of U.S. Sixth Fleet, spoke on the broader strategic importance of Phoenix Express:
“It is crucial to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness, information sharing, and tactical expertise with our Allies and partner nations to counter sea-based illicit activity in North Africa and the Southern Mediterranean Sea.”
Participants engaged in a range of training exercises, including ship boarding, search and rescue, and diving operations, to bolster their ability to address shared maritime challenges.
Commodore Noureddine Chakroun of the Tunisian Navy remarked:
“Tunisia is honored to host Phoenix Express 2024. Our strategic location in the Mediterranean allowed us to facilitate multinational operations that addressed shared security objectives by collectively addressing maritime security challenges.”
Nations participating in this year’s exercise included Algeria, Belgium, Georgia, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Türkiye, and the United States.
Phoenix Express is one of three regional maritime exercises led by U.S. Naval Forces Africa. It serves as part of a comprehensive strategy to foster collaboration among African forces and international partners to tackle maritime security issues in the region. This annual event underscores the collective commitment to ensuring stability and addressing threats in the Mediterranean and beyond.
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