Overview
Relations between Tunisia and the United States
date back to the 18th century. The first bilateral agreement, “The treaty of amity and commerce”, was signed on August
27, 1797. The United States was among the first countries to recognize the independence of Tunisia and Tunisia
was among the first countries to recognize the young American federal state.
The
first American Consulate was established in Tunis on January 20, 1800. In September 1805, a Tunisian special envoy
was received by President Thomas Jefferson. In 1865, after the Civil War, another ambassador was sent to the U.S.
with a message of friendship to the American people.
During
Tunisia 's struggle for independence, leaders of the national liberation movement established good relations with
U.S. administrations and the American labor movement. At the end of French rule, in 1956, the United States was among
the first countries to recognize the independence of Tunisia. Diplomatic relations were soon established after
that.
Since then, ties of friendship and cooperation between Tunisia and the United States have been strengthened
within the framework of common adherence to the values of liberty, democracy and free enterprise. Both countries
have worked closely for the promotion of international peace, stability and progress. The search for peace in the
Middle East in particular has been a common objective towards which both countries actively collaborated.
The United States has contributed substantially to the economic and social development of Tunisia,
particularly in the fields of agriculture, the transfer of technology and training. These relations have been bolstered
through the years by the visits of high level officials to both countries. President Ben Ali's State visits to
the United States (in 1989 and 1990) helped give a new impetus to the traditional relations of friendship between
the two countries.
American First Lady Hilary
Clinton visited Tunisia in 1999. Several US congressional delegations visited Tunisia early in the year 2000.
President Zine El Abidine
Ben Ali visited the United States in February 2004, and held talks widh President Gerge W. Bush.
Legal framework
The Tunisian-American bilateral relations are
governed by the following agreements :
