Florida Congressional Delegation of Hellenic Descent Praises Pairing of Florida National Guard with Greek Military

Washington, DC - U.S. Representatives Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Jimmy Patronis (FL-1), and Mike Haridopolos (FL-8 ) today issued the following statement in support of the U.S. Department of State's announcement pairing the Hellenic National Guard of Greece with the Florida National Guard under the State Partnership Program (SPP):

"We welcome and strongly support the U.S. State Department's decision to pair the Hellenic National Guard of Greece with the Florida National Guard through the State Partnership Program. This partnership represents a meaningful step forward in strengthening the strategic relationship between the United States and Greece and deepening cooperation between two vital allies. Florida and Greece share longstanding ties rooted in shared democratic values, regional security interests, and a strong people-to-people connection fostered by the vibrant Greek-American community in our state. This partnership will enhance military readiness, interoperability, disaster response coordination, and joint training, while promoting mutual understanding and collaboration across a broad range of civil-military priorities. This partnership reinforces Greece's role as a pillar of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and underscores the United States' enduring commitment to its allies. The collaboration between the Florida National Guard and the Hellenic National Guard will strengthen both forces and contribute to collective security, resilience, and preparedness. As proud Americans of Greek heritage from Florida, we are excited to support this historic partnership and commend the State Department, the Department of War, and National Guard leadership in both nations for advancing this important initiative. We look forward to seeing this relationship grow and deliver lasting benefits for the United States, Greece, and the broader transatlantic alliance."