U.S. NATIONAL GUARD
The U.S. Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program (SPP) has added new partner nations in Africa in the 30th year of the program.
Malawi and Zambia have joined 17 other African nations in the program. Established in 1993, it now involves more than 45% of the world’s countries paired with the National Guard of every U.S. state and territory.
The program develops enduring relationships with partner countries and carries out activities to build capacity, improve compatibility, and improve U.S. access and influence. It also increases the readiness of U.S. and partner forces to meet emerging challenges.
The SPP creates strong, strategic partnerships through military-to-military engagements, exercises and key-leader engagements. The relationships often lead to co-deployments and close civil, government and commerce ties.
Through the SPP, National Guard members train and learn with their foreign counterparts and become more aware of the global environment in which they operate.
The program will be refined and expanded in the coming months and years, said Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, National Guard Bureau chief.
“We don’t come with preconditions,” he said. “We have no hidden agenda. We’re here to advance whatever is best for both America and our allies and partners, based on shared values and common interests.”