The U.S. Embassy in Tunis recently celebrated the 249th anniversary of U.S. independence with an event themed "Summer of Soccer." This theme coincides with Tunisia's Esperance de Tunis participating in the FIFA Club World Cup hosted by the United States, playing matches in Philadelphia and Nashville.
On June 17, U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia Joey Hood and his wife Anne Lompo hosted the annual Independence Day reception at the embassy. The event was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Ali Nafti, Minister of Communication Technologies Sofien Hemissi, and various Tunisian and international guests from different sectors.
Ambassador Hood highlighted the strong ties between the United States and Tunisia, which have been building for over 228 years through diplomatic relations, trade, and security cooperation. In his speech, he remarked on Tunisia's early recognition of U.S. independence: “each year, we proudly recall how Tunisia stood with us more than two centuries ago, becoming one of the world’s first nations to recognize our independence, a gesture formalized in the Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1797.”
He emphasized that this bond extends beyond diplomacy into areas such as business and sports: “We see how that bond extends beyond diplomacy: to business, friendships, and now, even soccer. As we celebrate the independence of the United States, let us honor the enduring bond between the United States and Tunisia.”
For those interested in reading Ambassador Hood’s complete remarks as prepared for delivery, they are available online.