Tunisia will not accept foreign military base, insists president

Tunisian President Kais Saied has said that he will not accept the presence of any foreign troops or military base in his country. He made his comment in a speech delivered on the 65th anniversary of the foundation of Tunisia’s National Armed Forces.

This comes weeks after Defence Minister Imed Hazgui said that Tunisia refuses to use its territory to conduct military operations or to establish foreign military units or bases.

“Tunisia still controls its own land, territorial waters and airspace,” insisted Hazgui, “and we do not allow any foreign force to be present in our country.”

AFRICOM commander US Army General Stephen Town had said that America is considering sending a unit of military trainers to Tunisia, due to Russia’s involvement in neighbouring Libya.

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