 The at sea portion of Exercise Phoenix Express got underway in Tunis, Tunisia. The at sea portion of Phoenix Express is five days long and involves seven partner nation ships and aircraft. The objective is to improve cooperation and interoperability during at sea maritime interdiction operations. Phoenix Express is all about strengthening partnerships and building cooperation. One of the great strengths of the United States and our US Navy is our allies and partners. This exercise will strengthen those relationships. It's time we are together, we gain something. We are counting on our partnership and our friendship. The cooperation is no more a choice. It's a compulsory for all nation to share information, share experience and in this way we're going to provide a safe maritime domain for all mariner crossing by our waters.