Annual defense budget: $383m 

Defense spending trend: Up 22% in 2002

Despite its small size – 35,000 troops, of which around two-thirds are conscripts – the military is a major political force. Its weaponry comes mainly from the US, and officer training is carried out in the US and France, as well as in Tunisia. Border security with Algeria was tightened in 1995 after Algerian Islamists attacked Tunisian border guards in protest against Tunisian support for Algerian security forces.

TUNISIAN ARMED FORCES

Army
		84 main battle tanks (54 M-60A3, 30 M-60A1)		27,000 personnel
Navy
		19 patrol boats		4500 personnel
Air force
		29 combat aircraft (12 F-5E/F, 12 L-59, 5 MB-326K/L)		3500 personnel
Nuclear capability
		None

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004