A foreign policy priority is to strengthen contacts with the West, which have generally been good because of Tunisia's liberal economic and social policies. Attention is focused on ties with the EU, the main outlet for Tunisia's agricultural exports.
Tunis has been host to the PLO since the organization was expelled from Lebanon. Relations with other Arab states, particularly Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, were soured by Tunisia's support for Iraq in the Gulf War. The government would like to see them restored to their former amicability. There is concern over the possible effects of the political success of Islamic fundamentalism in neighboring Algeria. Relations with Libya are improving, helped by the fact that Tunisia has been turning a blind eye to sanction-busters operating through its territory.
