America first puts Tunisia last

With the Jasmine uprising, Tunisia opened a new page of its history to become the only Arab country that succeeded in ousting its president without the aid of military or foreign intervention. But several militant attacks have affected tourism, leaving the country in a difficult economic situation that continues to overshadow everyday life.

Obama's administration increased its military support to Tunisia to counter the terrorism that has shaken this small North African state. Since 2011, the US international development agency has donated $300 million to fund public and private sector projects. 

However, Trump's "America first" policies may mean that the US distances itself from a country in which Europe has provided the lion's share of tourism.

Trump's executive order to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal is a clear sign of his foreign policy, which is concentrated on national interests. As such, Trump's first victims are those nations that have little to give back.

This means that Europe is set to enhance its position in Tunisian markets, as European Commission funding to Tunisia will soon amount to more than $779 million. 

Since Tunisia sits on Europe's doorstep it has become an increasingly strategic point of concern, especially while Russian influence grows in neighbouring Libya. The US under Trump is busy with immigration restrictions and domestic healthcare, which leaves the Tunisian economic field open to another player. China has given more than $6 million in aid and $124 million as a loan to Tunisia.

France remains the main economic partner, with $343 million in direct investment, and $89 million of Tunisia's economy in stock. Tunisian debt to France is believed to stand at 1.3 billion euro ($1.4bn), which shows the strong economic relations that have developed over several decades since Tunisia gained its independence in 1956. 

The US also has a strong history of good relations with Tunisia - it was the first nation to recognise the republic in 1956, and more recently, in 2015, Secretary of State John Kerry praised the ongoing democratic project by calling Tunisia "a shining example to those who claim that democracy is not possible in this part of the world".

But it is Kerry's successor, Rex Tillerson, who will need to be impressed if Tunisia is to get a room in the Trump Mansion. 

Habibulah Mohamed Lamin is a journalist based in the Western Sahara refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria. He has worked as a translator and is director of Equipe Media Branch, a group of media activists covering Western Sahara. His work focuses on politics and culture of the Maghreb.

Follow him on Twitter: @habibullahWS