Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — Tunisia and the United States is conducting
their annual review of defense cooperation.

Officials said the Defense Department led a U.S. dialogue with Tunisia
in an effort to determine the military requirements of the North African
state.

The United States and Tunisia Joint Military Commission, which began
proceedings on May 28, was headed by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and
Tunisian Defense Minister Rachid Sabbagh.

“The secretary [Hagel] said he was pleased with the continued
military-to-military cooperation between the countries and emphasized the
need for future cooperation in light of shared interests and security
challenges in the region,” Pentagon spokesman George Little said.

Tunis and Washington have been conducting an annual dialogue since 1987.
Officials said the commission was scheduled to complete its review of
bilateral defense relations, which included Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton
Carter, on May 30.

After years of relative inactivity, Washington has overseen the delivery
of military aircraft to Tunisia, 70 percent of whose military consisted of
U.S. equipment. This included the C-130J air transport by Lockheed Martin,
which delivered the first of two such aircraft in April.

Officials said the U.S. has doubled the amount of military assistance to
Tunisia since the Islamist-led revolt in 2011. They said Tunis has received
$32 million in U.S. military aid over the last two years, particularly in
the area of training.

Over the last year, the administration of President Barack Obama has
pressed Tunisia to invest greater efforts to stop Al Qaida-aligned
operations in North Africa. Officials said the administration focused on
greater protection of the U.S. embassy in Tunis, which came under attack
from Al Qaida-inspired demonstrators in September 2012.

On May 28, a Tunisian court sentenced 20 of the attackers of the U.S.
embassy to suspended prison terms. On the following day, the U.S. embassy
expressed concern over what it termed the lenient sentences. The Pentagon,
however, said Tunis has responded to U.S. appeals for additional protection
of the embassy.

“Deputy Secretary Carter expressed gratitude for the continued support
Tunisia has provided to the U.S. embassy in Tunis in the aftermath of the
September 14, 2012 attack and for the continued cooperation between both
countries on a wide range of mutual security issues,” Little said.

  Ashton Carter, C-130J air transport, Hagel reviews military ties with Tunisia; U.S. aid has doubled since 2011 Islamist revolt, Rachid Sabbagh