Montana Guard, Sri Lanka Armed Forces Sign Memorandum of Understanding for Partnership

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - The United States and Sri Lanka have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU, formalizing the defense partnership between the Montana National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard District 13 and the Sri Lanka Armed Forces under the Department of War National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program, or SPP.

U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung; Brig. Gen. Trenton Gibson, adjutant general of the Montana National Guard; and Sri Lanka's Secretary of Defense Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha signed the MOU Nov. 14 at the Ministry of Defense in Sri Lanka. The action marked a historic milestone in U.S.-Sri Lanka defense relations, underscoring both nations' shared commitment to regional stability, maritime security and professional military collaboration in the Indo-Pacific to advance the goal of peace through partnership.

Chung highlighted the significance of the new chapter in U.S.-Sri Lanka defense cooperation.

"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. 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," Chung said.

Thuyacontha said, "This agreement represents a progressive initiative that will further enhance Sri Lanka's defense capabilities and reinforce the enduring partnership with the United States. 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."

Gibson said: "We are honored to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Sri Lankan counterparts. Together, we'll build strength, trust, and lasting bonds that enhance the security of both our nations."

The Montana-Sri Lanka partnership was established in 2021. The MOU formalizes a framework for deeper collaboration, strengthening professional ties and advancing joint security cooperation between the two nations.

The Montana National Guard brings extensive expertise in disaster response, homeland defense and global partnerships. Since 2021, the Montana National Guard and Sri Lanka's armed forces have deepened their partnership through joint training, expert exchanges and reciprocal visits, building trust and strengthening defense cooperation.

Notable recent engagements include ATLAS ANGEL 2024 and PACIFIC ANGEL 2025, when U.S. and Sri Lankan personnel worked to enhance humanitarian assistance and disaster response capabilities. Under the State Partnership Program, the U.S. Coast Guard District 13 also welcomed Sri Lanka Coast Guard officers to Seattle in August for joint training on oil spill response, including hazardous waste operations, shoreline recovery and on-water cleanup-sharing expertise to safeguard sea lanes and protect the marine environment.

With this MOU, Sri Lanka joins a global network of 115 nations partnered with National Guard units in the U.S. under the SPP. The first series of joint activities under this MOU is planned for the summer of 2026, focusing on disaster response, maritime domain awareness and professional military education.

The Montana-Sri Lanka National Guard partnership will focus on 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; and military and civil disaster readiness and response as well as military-civilian coordination for disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

The SPP was created in 1993 by the U.S. Department of Defense-now the Department of War-after the end of the Cold War to foster enduring relationships between U.S. state National Guards and partner nations. 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. Today, through the SPP, the National Guard of every state, three U.S. territories and the District of Columbia is partnered with more than 100 partner countries - nations on every continent but Antarctica -promoting peace, stability and mutual readiness through training, humanitarian assistance and expertise exchange.

The Montana National Guard, headquartered in Helena, Montana, is composed of highly trained Soldiers and Airmen who serve their state and the nation. Its participation in the SPP reflects the Guard's dual mission: defending the United States while advancing global peace and security through trusted international partnerships.