Italy is strengthening defense cooperation with Tunisia, positioning the partnership as a pillar of stability across the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Sahel. What happened: Italy’s Undersecretary of Defense Matteo Perego di Cremnago visited Tunisia for talks with Tunisian Defense Minister Khaled Shili, in a mission aimed at strengthening bilateral military cooperation. Perego emphasized that cooperation with Tunisia is central to security dynamics in the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Sahel. Military training remains a key pillar, with Tunisian personnel regularly attending Italian military academies. The bottom line: Italy is reinforcing its role as a security actor in North Africa, betting on closer defense ties with Tunisia as a pillar of regional stability in an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 27, 2026 17:43 UTC