The US authorities have re-introduced the project to establish the Maritime Center of Excellence in Bizerte, through the US government procurement platform on 29/7/2026. The commander of US Naval Forces in Africa, Admiral George M. Wikoff, visited the center under construction and described it as dedicated to training naval commandos. He stated, "The Maritime Center of Excellence represents a significant investment in regional security. This facility will help develop highly skilled maritime professionals, strengthen interoperability among partner nations, and provide a platform for multinational training," according to a statement issued by US Naval Forces in Europe and Africa and the Sixth Fleet on 14 June 2026.

So, without fear of accountability, President Kais Saied is allowing the establishment of a permanent American military facility on Tunisia’s soil. We in Hizb ut Tahrir / Wilayah of Tunisia emphasize the following points:

1- If military exercises and maneuvers with the American enemy have been ongoing since the signing of the Distinguished Ally Agreement in 2015 and have increased in frequency after the Roadmap Agreement in 2020, what justifies the establishment of an American military facility and its transformation into a regional center for multinational training, unless it is a prelude to making Tunisia an advanced base for American forces in Africa (AFRICOM)? The American base in Bahrain, for example, was a small naval facility that then developed over time into an American military base and a center for its Fifth Fleet.

2- America's talk of using the facility as a regional center for multinational training aimed at combating "terrorism," enhancing maritime security and regional defense, and other objectives, is merely a cover to legitimize military intervention in Africa. It is to support weak secular regimes to remain in power and prevent the liberation of revolting populations from Western hegemony and its local proxies. What they call "interoperability cooperation" between partner states is actually intended to strengthen the military capabilities of these regimes under the supervision of the US military, enabling them to confront challenges by proxy. This allows the US to avoid direct military involvement in Africa and the Mediterranean, especially after its involvement in the Iran War and its resounding failures in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

3- Giving any part of Tunisia’s land to America and entering into military and security agreements with it is forbidden in Shariah. Its perpetrator deserves punishment in this world and the Hereafter, because it means the domination of Muslims and their lands by non-Muslims. Allah (swt) says:

[وَلَن يَجْعَلَ اللّهُ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَبِيلاً]

“And Allah will never grant the disbelievers a way over the believers” [An-Nisa: 141]. It also means that the believers take the disbelievers as allies, as Allah (swt) says:

[لاَّ يَتَّخِذِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ]

“Believers should not take disbelievers as guardians instead of the believers” [Aal-i-Imran: 28].

O people of Tunisia, the country of the heroic mujahideen: The Shariah duty is to work to cancel these agreements, and end the American and foreign military presence in our lands, so that Tunisia will be the support point for the Khilafah Rashidah (rightly guided Caliphate) State, and a starting point for the liberation of Palestine and the captive Al-Aqsa. If we resolve to do so, Allah has guaranteed for us victory over our enemies. Allah (swt) says:

[وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ]

“And whoever puts their trust in Allah, then He ˹alone˺ is sufficient for them” [At-Talaq: 3].

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Tunisia