WASHINGTON –
PRESS ADVISORY: National Guard Bureau, DC National Guard, and Burkina Faso Discuss New State Partnership Program
**Please RSVP no later than Wednesday, May 1, 11 a.m. to alicia.m.lacy-jimenez.mil@mail.mil**
Media Colleagues:
WASHINGTON - The National Guard Bureau and District of Columbia National Guard will host a media roundtable, May 1 at 2 p.m., in the Pentagon Briefing Room, to discuss the State Partnership Program (SPP) and the D.C. National Guard's newest partnership with Burkina Faso.
Maj. Gen. William Walker, Commanding General D.C. National Guard, Mr. Andrew Young , the U.S. Ambassador to Burkina Faso; Brig. Gen. Steven deMilliano, U.S. Africa Command Deputy Director of Plans; Col. William Hummer, National Guard Bureau's Director of International Affairs will be in attendance.
The SPP has become an invaluable asset toward the DOD's security interests globally, including 75 partnerships with 81 nations. The SPP helps to support and assure our allies, deter aggression, and build lasting security cooperation relationships based on mutual respect and common interests to build U.S. and partner capacity to meet 21st century security challenges.
"SPP 2.0 is an NDS-aligned reforms approach to great power competition, which supports our combatant commanders with a security cooperation tool that strengthens existing partnerships and attracts new partners," said Brig. Gen. Christopher Lawson, National Guard Bureau Vice Director Plans and Policy. "SPP builds a fabric of interdependence, interoperability, and burden-sharing that gives the combatant commanders the competitive advantage in preserving peace, while exporting America’s enduring values of security and prosperity."
The SPP boasts 14 partnerships on the Africa continent, and in February, the country of Burkina Faso has become the 76th nation to join the Department of Defense State Partnership Program.
"Burkina Faso continues to be a U.S. strategic ally and an active partner in the fight against Violent Extremist Organizations," said Maj. Gen. William J. Walker, Commanding General, D.C. National Guard. "We are eager to develop our partnership with Burkina Faso through targeted security force assistance programs aimed at building Burkina Faso's capacity in specific areas such as counter-terrorism, peacekeeping, intelligence, and defense institutions building."
Reporters who plan to attend in person or would like to call in, should contact Alicia Lacy-Jimenez via email at alicia.m.lacy-jimenez.mil@mail.mil no later than 11 a.m., May 1. A conference bridge number will be provided after the RSVP. If you do not have Pentagon Access, please indicate this on your RSVP.
You may also call at 703-607-2873 or 703-601-6767, if you have any questions.
Key Links:
National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program:
https://www.nationalguard.mil/Leadership/Joint-Staff/J-5/International-Affairs-Division/State-Partnership-Program/
State Partnership Program links D.C National Guard and Burkina Faso https://www.army.mil/article/216975/state_partnership_program_links_dc_national_guard_and_burkina_faso
AFRICOM Hosts The Adjutant General State Partnership Program Conference:
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/318937/africom-hosts-adjutant-general-state-partnership-program-conference
State Partnership Program Fact Sheet:
https://www.nationalguard.mil/Portals/31/Documents/J-5/InternationalAffairs/StatePartnershipProgram/SPP%20101%20(June%202018).pdf
State Partnership Program Map:
https://www.nationalguard.mil/Portals/31/Documents/J-5/InternationalAffairs/StatePartnershipProgram/SPP%20Partnership%20Map%20(January%202019).pdf