US sells US$ 95 million worth of border security equipment to Tunisia – can a similar deal between the EU or the US be struck with Libya?

The U.S. Department of State announced yesterday that it has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Tunisia to buy equipment in support of its Border Security Project Phase III. The total estimated cost is $95 million.

The U.S. Department of State reported that the Government of Tunisia has requested to buy the following non-major defence equipment items:

1. Border Reaction Unit commercial vehicles;
2. vehicular radios;
3. base stations;
4. border surveillance and relay tower thermal cameras;
5. radars;
6. microwaves;
7. perimeter cameras;
8. long-term evolution systems;
9. shelters;
10. environmental sensors;
11. generators;
12. solar systems;
13. personal radiation detector “pagers”;
14. explosive detector;
15. Fido X3;
16. chemical detector;
17. Progeny ResQ;
18. Radiation detector;
19. Identifier R400-NGH;
20. range finder;
21. binoculars;
22. search light;
23. tow strap;
24. jumper cables;
25. road spikes;
26. first aid kit;
27. tactical thermal imagers;
28. command and control hardware and software;
29. common operating picture software;
30. operations centre hardware;
31. spare parts;
32. border surveillance site preparation;
33. installation;
34. configuration,
35. integration and testing services;
36. vehicular integration services;
37. warranties;
38. repair and return;
39. and in-country training.

The U.S. Department of State said this proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the defence capabilities and capacity of a major non-NATO ally, which is an important force for political stability and economic progress in North Africa.

It said the proposed sale will improve Tunisia’s long-term defence capacity to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to meet its national defence requirements.

The principal contractors will be L3 Harris, located in Melbourne, Florida; and Toyota, located in Plano, Texas.

Possible ramifications for Libya
The increased ability of Tunisia to monitor and control its borders, including its border with Libya, will have a positive ramification on Libya’s border security with regards to illicit trade of arms, drugs and human trafficking.

The U.S. Department of State said the proposed sale of the listed equipment and training to Tunisia will ‘‘improve Tunisia’s long-term defence capacity to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to meet its national defence requirements’’.

The question must therefore be asked: Why is Libya not able to strike a similar border security equipment and training deal with the EU or the US?