Tunisia is preparing for a number of scenarios as conflicts widen and regional and global tensions mount, Defense Minister Khaled Sehili said, outlining plans to bolster military readiness and secure essential supplies, according to local media reports. Speaking during a joint parliamentary plenary session on Thursday, Sehili said the country's proactive strategy includes stockpiling fuel, medicines and food, diversifying supply sources and tightening surveillance along its land, air and maritime borders. The military is also reinforcing border security by extending an earthen barrier along the entire eastern frontier and building a parallel 95-km (59-mile) trench to curb infiltration and smuggling, he said. Sehili announced plans for legislation regulating drone use to address emerging challenges and govern the technology. Preparing for potential threats and scenarios "requires developing defense capabilities and strengthening readiness" to protect Tunisia and its national interests amid rapidly changing security conditions, he said. He described the Defense Ministry's budget as "an investment in Tunisia's security and stability" and a safeguard for independent national decision-making as regional and international developments bring mounting military and security risks. Sehili said Tunisia's security situation remained "relatively stable," but warned that continued vigilance and preparedness were essential. The military is responding to evolving threats through targeted preemptive operations aimed at putting pressure on suspicious elements and restricting their ability to act and move, he said. Those efforts include securing borders, combating terrorism and dismantling logistical support networks used by terrorist groups. "Tunisia's security cannot be separated from that of its regional surroundings," Sehili affirmed, underscoring the need to prepare for different scenarios. He warned of escalating armed conflicts, growing security threats, intensifying strategic competition over transit routes and a widening arms race. The developments are closely linked to Tunisia's immediate neighborhood, particularly North Africa, the Sahel and the Sahara, where mounting security challenges risk creating fertile ground for terrorist and criminal groups, he said. Sehili called for more effective military operations, better use of available resources and greater self-reliance, alongside continued international military cooperation to build a strong national army capable of carrying out its duties effectively.
