Finland is joining the US State Partnership Program (SPP) of the United States National Guard: A letter of intent to this effect was signed a few days ago by Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen and the Governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin, in Helsinki. Austria Austria is already part of the programThe partner state here is Vermont. At the end of March Switzerland also decided to join the SPP. to join the SPP.
The National Guard in the United States is a force subordinate to the governors of the states, which is deployed on a regional level for rescue, evacuation and protection missions. Virginia is the partner state of Finland. The strength of the Virginia National Guard is about 8,450 men, the total strength of all National Guards in the United States is about 340,000 men. https://militaeraktuell.at/brunei-bestellt-sechs-neue-h145m-von-airbus/
The State Partnership Program offers many advantages
The SPP opens up new opportunities for the armed forces of partnered nations for exercises, training, deepening cooperation between the sectors and developing competencies. In the case of Finland, cooperation will primarily take place within the army, air force and cyber sectors. Defense Minister Häkkänen said at the signing ceremony: “Defense cooperation between the United States and Finland will be deepened. These areas of cooperation promote the development of Finnish defense and complement the existing cooperation with the United States.”
