Away from the intense media coverage, the twenty-first edition of the “Phoenix Express 2026” exercise, which is a multinational naval exercise organized by the US Navy in Africa and led by the US Sixth Fleet, was concluded, according to what was reported by the website of the US military command in Africa (United States Africa Command).
The Tunisian Navy hosted the maneuvers at the La Goulette naval base (the naval base in La Goulette) over a period of 12 days, between 7 and 19 September.
Broad participation from 14 countries
According to the US Navy, naval units from 14 countries participated in the maneuvers: Algeria, Belgium, Egypt, France, Georgia, Italy, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Spain, and the United States.
The US Navy said that the exercise was divided into two phases, each of which lasted about a week. In the first phase, the participating forces conducted land and port exercises, which included operating a joint communications center, exchanging operational information, and organizing technical and legal workshops.
The second phase consisted of naval tactical exercises that included ship inspections and boarding operations, search and rescue operations, and munitions disposal training, in addition to exchanging experiences in confronting chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear risks, according to what was reported by the German “Focus” website.
The forces also participated in exercises through simulation centers for maritime awareness, where ship movements were digitally tracked, coordination between naval units and coastal authorities was improved, and different security scenarios were dealt with.
American-Libyan cooperation attracts attention
Among the aspects that caught the attention of observers during the maneuvers was the participation of elements of the Libyan forces in joint training with American forces.
The Libya Observer website reported on September 17, 2026, quoting the US Department of Defense, that members of the US Marine Corps and the Libyan Navy Special Forces carried out training on visitation, boarding, inspection and seizure operations in the Tunisian city of Bizerte, as part of efforts to enhance maritime security through international cooperation.
In the same context, the German "Focus" website indicated, on Monday (September 21, 2026), that this cooperation is of particular importance in light of the existing security relations between Libya and Russia. The website quoted Business Insider Africa as saying that direct military cooperation between Washington and the Libyan forces had long been viewed as unlikely.
Focus added that Russia has recently strengthened its military presence in Libya, by expanding a number of air bases and establishing new logistical support and residence facilities, in addition to using these sites as focal points for its operations in the African Sahel region.
American maneuvers inside Libya itself
But in reality, “Phoenix Express 2026” was not the first maneuver that brought together Libyan and American forces in the recent period; In April 2026, the Libyan city of Sirte hosted the “Flintlock 2026” maneuvers, led by the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) and with the participation of several countries, including the United States, Turkey, Germany, Britain, Egypt, and Tunisia. The exercise set a remarkable precedent with the participation of forces from eastern and western Libya together for the first time, as part of efforts to enhance military coordination, support the country’s stability, and build its security capabilities.
An Algerian and Moroccan participation sparks discussion on social media
American-Libyan cooperation was not the only focus of attention, as the participation of Algerian and Moroccan forces together in the maneuvers sparked widespread interaction on social media sites, in light of the continuing political differences between the two countries.
Part of a broader American strategy
According to the US Military Command in Africa (United States Africa Command), the “Phoenix Express” exercise is one of three regional naval exercises led by the US Navy in Africa, as part of a strategy aimed at enhancing cooperation between African countries and international partners to confront challenges related to maritime security.
The command explains that the US Sixth Fleet, which is based in the Italian city of Naples, carries out a wide range of naval and joint operations, often in cooperation with allied forces and international partners, with the aim of supporting security and stability in Europe and Africa and protecting American interests in the two regions.
