Saudi Arabia and the US have taken a further step towards strengthening their military ties, with Riyadh formally joining the US Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program (SPP), reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
During a ceremony in Riyadh, the Saudi Ministry of Defense on Thursday signed a military partnership agreement that aims to align the Saudi Arabian armed forces with the Indiana and Oklahoma National Guards in a trilateral partnership established last year.
State Partnership Program
The SPP involves 115 nations worldwide with the aim of boosting strategic bonds and strengthening defense cooperation. It covers multiple key areas, including joint military training, exercises and exchanges to enhance collective readiness, reestablish deterrence and foster enduring relationships among troops.
The agreement, signed by Saudi Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant-General Fayyad Al-Ruwaili, and US officials including Chief of the National Guard Bureau, General Steven Nordhaus, also focuses on joint field training, officer exchange programs, and specialized workshops on topics like artificial intelligence (AI) and crisis management.
Historic Milestone
On this occasion, Al-Ruwaili lauded the partnership with the US National Guard as a “historic milestone” in the trajectory of defense cooperation between Riyadh and Washington.
“It embodies our unwavering commitment to developing joint capabilities that strengthen regional security and stability, while firmly establishing the principles of combined military operations in pursuit of a more secure and prosperous future,” he added.
National Guard Capabilities
The Indiana and Oklahoma National Guard each offer unique capabilities in cybersecurity, disaster response, aviation maintenance, medical response and logistics — all of which provide avenues for exchange and collaborative training, the US Defense Department said.
The Saudi-Indiana-Oklahoma military partnership, which began last November with a cybersecurity exchange in Riyadh, expanded in April to include joint training in drone defense, border security, and maritime surveillance.
Shared Commitment
The Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Gen. Nordhaus, expressed his excitement about the partnership, which he described as a “force multiplier for security and stability” for both Riyadh and Washington.
“Today, we formalize a partnership that reflects the deep strategic relationship between our nations, built on a shared commitment to global security, trust and decades of cooperation,” he said.
“With this signing, the Indiana and the Oklahoma National Guard embark on a journey with the Saudi Arabian armed forces to share expertise, promote mutual understanding and advance our shared commitment to global security,” Gen. Nordhaus noted.
Similarly, the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim to Saudi Arabia, Alison Dilworth, praised defense cooperation with the Kingdom.
“The SPP will enable Indiana and Oklahoma National Guard members to work side by side with our Saudi partners and learn from each other. The possibilities of what we can do together are endless,” she said.
