U.S NATIONAL GUARD AND ITS STATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM-7 New York National Guard and Sweden

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The New York National Guard has established a State Partnership Program(SPP) with the Sweden. The official agreement was signed in a ceremony in New York City’s Freedom Tower on July 12 this year. This partnership marks a significant achievement in strengthening the bilateral military cooperation between the United States and Sweden. 

Prior to this partnership, in December 2023, the United States and Sweden signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) to strengthen the multilateral security and defense cooperation between the two countries. 

 “Allies, friends and partners are stronger together than they are individually — especially against those who want to destroy freedom and independence.”  expressed  Maj. Gen. Raymond Shields, the Adjutant General of New York during the official ceremony July 12, 2024

“This is a big moment for us, and we are honored to be here, ……      the partnership  will not only enhance operational abilities, it will also strengthen the bonds of friendship and a new understanding between our forces and our countries.”  elaborated Minister of Defence of Sweden Pal Jonson during the official ceremony July 12, 2024

The New York National Guard has been actively engaged in international partnerships through its State Partnership Program (SPP) and other global collaborations.  It has a State Partnership Program with South Africa since 2003 and with Brazil since 2019. Additionally, it has a bilateral security cooperation agreement with the Israeli Defense Forces since 2019 and a joint military training and exchanges in Greenland with Denmark since 2023.

The State Partnership Program presents innumerable benefits to both U.S and its partner regions and nations, including:

  • Enhancing security and defense cooperation: The program helps to strengthen the security and defense for the U.S and its partner nations and promotes regional stability by joint military training, cultural exchanges, and building military capabilities and collaborations.  
  • Humanitarian assistance: The program provides humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts during crisis and in the time of peace.
  • Economic development: The program facilitates  economic development by providing financial, medical, and educational assistance to the partner nations.

“In recent years, Guardsmen have conducted about 1,000 training exchanges with their foreign counterparts annually, focusing on everything from peacekeeping operations to leadership development, lifesaving techniques and cyber defense.” Stated the office of Governor Hochul of New York, July 12, 2024 

 

Additional reading: The Pennsylvania-Lithuania and New York-Brazil partnerships were named the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program partnerships of the year for 2022.

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Acknowledgments: Sources: U.S Army/ National Guard. Image: Major Gen. Ray Shields, left, the adjutant general of New York; Pal Jonson, Sweden’s Minister for Defence; Marcos Soler, Deputy Secretary for Public Safety for the State of New York; and Major Gen. Johan Pekkari, Sweden’s Chief of Policy and Plans, sign the document. New York’s Freedom Tower on July 12, 2024. © U.S. Army /National Guard photo by Stephanie Butler. Article by Editor in Chief, Catherine S. Schmidt.