5+5 Defense Initiative Stages Mediterranean Naval Exercises

Joint naval exercises involving ships and crews from Algeria, France, and Italy have begun at the Tripoli naval base in western Libya. The Algerian frigate El Moudi, alongside the French vessel Loire and the Italian patrol ship Comandante Bettica, arrived at the Libyan port to participate in these drills. The exercises are being conducted under the framework of the 5+5 Defence Initiative, as reported by Alwasat News on September 18, citing Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) Ministry of Defence. Military attachés from Algeria and Italy attended the official ceremony marking the start of the exercises.

These joint maneuvers, held for the first time in Libyan territorial waters under the auspices of the Libyan Ministry of Defence and the General Staff of the Libyan Army, aim to bolster the readiness of the Libyan Navy. A key objective is to facilitate the exchange of tactical experience among the participating nations. The Libyan Ministry of Defence highlighted that the initiative is instrumental in strengthening the protection of vital maritime routes and confronting shared challenges across the Mediterranean region.

The 5+5 Defence Initiative serves as a security framework comprising ten countries from the western Mediterranean. This includes five Maghreb states—Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Mauritania—and five European nations—Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, and Malta. Within this collaborative structure, member countries annually conduct joint military exercises. These ongoing efforts are designed to safeguard maritime routes, counter illegal migration, combat smuggling activities, and address a range of other emerging threats in the Mediterranean.