Introduction
How is the Military in Tunisia and how does it work to maintain Sucity and fight terrorism? In terms of Military and security forces, we have the Tunisian Armed Forces (Forces Armées Tunisiennes, FAT): Tunisian Army (includes Air Defense Force), Tunisian Navy, Tunisia Air Force
Ministry of Interior (MoI): Internal Security Forces (National Police, National Guard) (2025).
Ministry of Interior (MoI): Internal Security Forces (National Police, National Guard) (2025).
In Tunisia, the Tunisian Armed Forces (FAT) are responsible for territorial defense and internal security; operational areas of focus include counterterrorism and assisting with securing the border regions, particularly along the frontiers with Algerian and Libya
the FAT conducts bilateral and multinational training exercises with a variety of countries, including Algeria and other North African and Middle Eastern countries, France, and the US, as well as NATO; it also participates in UN peacekeeping operations; Tunisia has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2025)
the FAT conducts bilateral and multinational training exercises with a variety of countries, including Algeria and other North African and Middle Eastern countries, France, and the US, as well as NATO; it also participates in UN peacekeeping operations; Tunisia has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2025)
Security and military information of Tunisia
| Military and security service personnel strengths | approximately 35,000 active-duty Armed Forces (2025) |
|---|---|
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the Tunisian military's inventory consists mostly of older or secondhand equipment from a variety of suppliers, including Austria, France, Italy, Türkiye, and the US (2025) |
| Military service age and obligation | 18 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; men 20-35 years of age subject to 12 months of compulsory national service (2025). note: compulsory national service may be in the Armed Forces or other government ministries as needed |
| Military deployments | 840 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025). |
| Military expenditures | |
| Military Expenditures 2024 | 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2023 | 2.5% of GDP (2023 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2022 | 2.7% of GDP (2022 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2021 | 3% of GDP (2021 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2020 | 3% of GDP (2020 est.) |
Terrorism
In Tunisia, the different Terrorist group(s) inlcude: Ansar al-Sharia in Tunisia; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) network in Tunisia (known locally as Ajnad al-Khilafah or the Army of the Caliphate); al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb
All Important Facts about Tunisia
Want to know more about Tunisia? Check all different factbooks for Tunisia below.
