Washington---Barack Obama and Tunisia's president will on Thursday discuss increased military and economic aid designed to ensure the brightest democratic light to emerge from the Arab Spring is not extinguished by jihadists or joblessness.
Obama will host President Beji Caid Essebsi at the White House, hoping to strengthen a man who in December became the first democratically elected leader in Tunisia's 60-year history.
In 2011, a desperately disaffected Tunisian fruit vendor set himself alight, arousing pent up anger at failing government and economic hardship that led to popular revolts across the Middle East.
Since then Tunisia has held elections, but has also faced steep security threats, including chaos in neighboring Libya and a March attack on the Bardo National Museum which killed 21 tourists.
With Tunisian youth unemployment running at over 30 percent and the key tourism sector rocked by attacks, experts warn social tensions could again spill over into unrest.
Obama and Essebsi gave a positive assessment of the country's tumultuous recent history in a joint op-ed for the Washington Post released Wednesday.
"Tunisia shows that democracy is not only possible but also necessary in North Africa and the Middle East," the two leaders said.
"Today's national unity government includes secularists and Islamists, proving that democracy and Islam can thrive together," they added.
US officials say that Obama will outline a range initiatives centered on increased US aid and trade, including an already planned request to Congress to triple military financing.
"Since the revolution, the United States has provided critical economic assistance, including loan guarantees," Alistair Baskey, a spokesman for the National Security Council, told AFP.
"The Presidents will examine ways to expand trade and investment between our countries."
"To strengthen US support for Tunisia's security forces and to help them meet evolving threats, we will look to increase military financing assistance to Tunisia next year," Baskey added.
- Deeper engagement -
The White House hopes to signal a deeper engagement with Tunisia, which has not always been high on Washington's list of priorities.
It has asked Congress to approve $138 million in assistance for Tunisia next year, which includes $62.5 million in military financing.
A bipartisan group of Senators has written to Obama urging be bold about support for Tunisia's democratic transition.
"Many members believe that Tunisia's success is as much a national security priority as US relationships with Israel or Jordan," a Senate aide said, asking not to be named.
Aside from the symbolic value of supporting an Arab democracy, Tunisia also has broader strategic significance according to Sarah Feuer, a North Africa expert at the Washington Institute.
"A failed Tunisian state would only embolden religious extremists across the region," she said.
AFP
