ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s military has signed a memorandum with the US National Guard in Montana, to expand interoperability, joint training, disaster recovery and anti-drug operations.
“From wildfire response and flood relief in Montana to peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts overseas, the Montana National Guard has a proud record of service and professionalism,” US Ambassador Julie Chung said in a statement.
“This partnership with Sri Lanka, reaffirmed through today’s MOU, strengthens our shared resolve for a secure Indo-Pacific—building trust, readiness, and lasting peace through partnership.”
Planned activities include :
Joint training and professional exchanges to enhance interoperability and readiness.
Maritime Domain Awareness cooperation, addressing trafficking, migration, and narcotics interdiction.
Crisis response and humanitarian assistance, leveraging the Guard’s dual military–civilian capabilities, to include military medical and engineer activities.
Aviation operations, supporting mission success through skill and excellence.
Military and civil disaster readiness and response, military-civilian coordination for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
“This agreement represents a progressive initiative that will further enhance Sri Lanka’s defense capabilities and reinforce the enduring partnership with the United States,” Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) said.
“Over the years, our two nations have long cooperated in areas such as military training, disaster relief, and defense exchanges, fostering mutual understanding and trust.
“This framework will open new avenues for collaboration, promote capacity-building, and contribute to ensuring peace, security, and stability across the region.”
The co-operation is coming through America’s State Partnership Program started in 1993, to create links between US state National Guards and parter countries.
The SPP pairs the U.S. National Guard with foreign military counterparts to support defense security goals such as civil-military preparedness, critical infrastructure protection, and defense modernization.
Through exchange programs and joint capacity-building exercises, partners strengthen interoperability.
Through the SPP, the National Guard of every state three US territories and the District of Columbia is partnered with over 100 partner countries promoting peace, stability, and mutual readiness through training, humanitarian assistance, and expertise exchange.
“We are honored to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Sri Lankan counterparts,” Brigadier General Trenton Gibson, Adjutant General of the Montana National Guard was quoted as saying in the statement.
“Together, we’ll build strength, trust, and lasting bonds that enhance the security of both our nations.” (Colombo/Nov15/2025)
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