WASHINGTON \u2014 Tunisia’s status as a “non-NATO ally” of the United States has been approved, the US State Department said, paving the way for enhanced military cooperation between the countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Washington hailed the partnership between the United States and Tunisia after the Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status was confirmed Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“MNNA status sends a strong signal of our support for Tunisia’s decision to join the world’s democracies,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added the “status is a symbol of our close relationship.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In May, US President Barack Obama declared Tunisia a non-NATO ally while hosting his Tunisian counterpart Beji Caid Essebsi at the White House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The United States is hoping to strengthen Essebsi, who in December became the first democratically elected leader in Tunisia’s 60-year history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kirby said the status offers Tunisia a host of “tangible privileges, including eligibility for training, loans of equipment for cooperative research and development, and foreign military financing for commercial leasing of certain defense articles.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tunisia is the 16th country to become a Major Non-NATO Ally of the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tunisia became the flashpoint of Arab Spring revolts across the Middle East in 2011 when a disaffected fruit vendor set himself alight, arousing pent-up anger at failing government and economic hardship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Granting the country MNNA status is a bid to bolster the country against the rising threat of jihadist groups in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On June 26, a gunman killed 38 foreign holidaymakers, including 30 Britons, at a beach resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The massacre followed an attack in March, when two jihadists gunned down 21 tourists and a policeman at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both attacks were claimed by the Islamic State group.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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