ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

The National Guard’s State Partnership Program will grow by several nations this year, expanding to more than 100 the number of U.S. military partnerships with allies and partners, said Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau.

In remarks before defense and industry leaders participating in the McAleese Defense Programs Conference in Washington, D.C., Hokanson announced that Finland, Palau, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Sweden and Tanzania will be added to the program in 2024.

Though the admission of Finland to NATO strengthens the alliance’s eastern flank and increases its available military resources, the move also introduces new vulnerabilities for the 31-member organization, according to a new paper published by the Association of the U.S. Army. 

Speaking Feb. 15 at a NATO ministerial conference, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Russia’s “reckless war of choice” represents the worst European security crisis since World War II and requires a “fundamental shift” in the alliance’s collective defense and deterrence efforts.

By providing weapons and training, the U.S. is working to put the Ukrainians in the “strongest possible position” to defend their sovereignty and engage the Russians from a “position of strength,” Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said.

Speaking Dec. 3 on a panel during the Reagan National Defense Forum, Wormuth said the stakes are high. “Given what is at stake in Ukraine, not just for the Ukrainians, but for NATO and for the entire free world, it’s in our interest to give them what they need to defend their territory and push the Russians out,” she said.

While the Army remains busy supporting Ukraine and America’s NATO partners, the force has not let go of its focus on other hot spots around the world, Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville said.

“We’re a global organization,” McConville said Sept. 7. “We have to be able to do more than one thing at once.”

Speaking at an event hosted by Defense One, McConville said this includes boots on the ground in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and elsewhere, all while supporting defense of the homeland.

The U.S. and its NATO allies must remain united as they work to sustain support to Ukraine, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said.

“We can’t take that unity for granted, but I think our NATO allies know what’s at stake,” Wormuth said May 31 during an event hosted by the Atlantic Council.

However, the alliance must find a balance between aiding the Ukrainians and not escalating the war.

Years of practice and investment allowed the Army to quickly deploy to support NATO allies in Eastern Europe, the senior U.S. Army officer on the continent said.

Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Gen. Christopher Cavoli said the U.S.’ “multiyear” investment in the European Deterrence Initiative, designed to enhance deterrence and increase readiness, enabled the Army to place “large amounts of very modern equipment, brigade combat team sets, in storage in Europe” and practice drawing that gear on short notice. 

Gen. Christopher Cavoli, the top U.S. Army leader in Europe, has been nominated to be the next supreme allied commander, Europe, the Pentagon announced May 3.

If confirmed by the Senate, Cavoli would succeed Air Force Gen. Tod Wolters, who has held the job since May 2019. Cavoli also would take command of the U.S. European Command.