Qatari Special Forces escort a restrained gunman role-player, March 24, 2021, during U.S. Central Command’s crisis response exercise Invincible Sentry in Doha, Qatar. The annual bilateral exercise represents a unique opportunity to train with Qatari partners to practice critical crisis response capabilities. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alex L. Smedegard)

April 14, 2021

U.S. and Qatari Military Partner in Crisis Action Exercise

DOHA, Qatar — U.S. Central Command hosted Invincible Sentry 21 (IS 21), an exercise between Special Operations Forces and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) elements from both the U.S. and Qatar around Doha, Qatar, March 21-25, 2021.

Two men stand beside each other next to U.S. and NATO flags.

April 14, 2021

Austin Arrives in Brussels to Revitalize U.S. Engagement With NATO Allies

BRUSSELS, Belgium — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III arrived in Brussels for meetings with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. It's the first in-person meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

A military general signs a document

April 13, 2021

New Romanian fuel agreement strengthens military cooperation

FORT BELVOIR, Va. — Improving interoperability between military forces across the world, DLA Energy signed a new Fuel Implementing Arrangement with Romania Jan. 19. This first-ever fuel agreement with Romania establishes the terms and conditions for reciprocal fuel sales and purchases between U.S. Defense Department and Romania Ministry of National Defence forces.

Maj. Gen. Daniel R. Walrath, Army South commanding general, signs the agreed-to-actions document between the U. S. and Salvadoran armies April 7, outlining future training commitments and professional exchanges between the two armies.

April 12, 2021

U.S., Salvadoran armies renew training opportunities in Central America following staff talks

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — U.S. Army South, on behalf of the Army's chief of staff, conducted virtual staff talks with the Salvadoran Army April 7 to promote readiness-focused bilateral efforts that enhance interoperability, contribute to the readiness of the total force, and improve U.S. Army and partner nation land forces capabilities, to address current and future strategic, operational and tactical security challenges.

U.S. Southern Command’s commander, Navy Adm. Craig Faller, and Argentine Minister of Defense Agustin Rossi, pose for a photo with other senior leaders in front of three mobile hospitals donated by the United States to Argentina to support the nation’s COVID-19 response.

April 9, 2021

SOUTHCOM Commander Visits Uruguay, Argentina

MIAMI — The commander of U.S. Southern Command, Navy Adm. Craig Faller, completed a week-long trip today to Uruguay and Argentina where he met with each nation’s security leaders to discuss regional security and continued military-to-military cooperation.

Brig. Gen. Adam Flasch, left, director of the joint staff for the Maryland National Guard, speaks with 2nd Lt. Adis Poško, Armed Forces of Bosnia-Herzegovina, at the Army Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning Army Base in Columbus, Ga., April 1, 2021. Flasch was visiting members of the Maryland National Guard and state partners from the Armed Forces of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

April 9, 2021

Maryland National Guard, state partners renew SPP ties

COLUMBUS, Ga. — The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the Maryland National Guard from working with its partners Estonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina for more than a year as travel restrictions and other precautions paused all in-person State Partnership Program events. Now that vaccines are widely available and there are fewer positive cases of the coronavirus, the Maryland National Guard and its partners are beginning to resume planning security cooperation activities.

April 8, 2021

Colombian Army honors security enterprise leader

BOGOTA, Colombia — The commander of the Colombian Army has presented one of his military’s highest awards to the commander of the Security Assistance Command in a surprise ceremony during a key leader engagement in Bogota, Colombia.

US Army Medical Professionals Administer COVID-19 Vaccines in Saipan

April 5, 2021

US Army Medical Professionals Administer COVID-19 Vaccines in Saipan

SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands — A team of 12 U.S. Army medical professionals began administering COVID-19 Vaccine doses to members of the local community in Saipan, April 3. The team, composed of a medical officer and combat medic specialists assigned to the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii traveled to Saipan, April 1. The Soldiers are slated to complete a

The Mayor of Malanville, accepts keys to a newly constructed health clinic from Humanitarian Assistance Program Coordinator Cosme Quenum, a local national with the U.S. Embassy in Cotonou, Benin in the village of Money, Benin in Africa at the end of January 2021. The clinic and various associated facilities also built with it comprise one of two similar clinic projects recently completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in that region of Benin through funding from AFRICOM and coordinated closely with the U.S. State Department.

April 5, 2021

Projects in Benin increase both healthcare capacity and ability to document births

BENIN — Villagers in two communities in northeast Benin will no longer need to cross the border to give birth or receive other basic medical care with the delivery of two new medical facilities in the remote villages of Money and Godjekoara, both of which sit in the larger border region of the Commune of Malanville. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District implemented and managed the construction of the facilities. Project requirements and funding were provided by AFRICOM with onsite coordination provided by the U.S. Embassy and Office of Security Cooperation.

Maj. Gen. William J. Walker, commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, Brig. Gen. Aaron R. Dean II, adjutant general, and other senior leaders hosted a bilateral engagement with Colonel Major Rémi Jean de Dieu Kaboré, defense, military and air attaché of the Embassy of Burkina Faso March 30, 2021. The DCNG and Burkina Faso are partners under the National Guard's State Partnership Program.

April 2, 2021

DCNG hosts Burkina Faso military attaché in SPP visit

WASHINGTON — Maj. Gen. William J. Walker, commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, Brig. Gen. Aaron R. Dean II, adjutant general, and other senior leaders hosted a bilateral engagement with Colonel Major Rémi Jean de Dieu Kaboré, defense, military and air attaché of the Embassy of Burkina Faso.

The Michigan National Guard and Latvia strengthened their partnership under the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program with a virtual workshop March 15-19, 2021. U.S. military public affairs professionals from Michigan, Illinois, New Jersey and Washington joined with counterparts from the Republic of Latvia to sharpen their skills as media content creators.

April 2, 2021

Michigan, Latvia strengthen partnership in virtual workshop

LANSING, Mich. — U.S. military public affairs professionals from Michigan, Illinois, New Jersey and Washington joined with counterparts from the Republic of Latvia to sharpen their skills as media content creators during a virtual military storytelling workshop March 15-19.

March 31, 2021

US, International Pilots and Maintainers learn newest version of AH-64 Apache Aircraft

FORT RUCKER, Ala. — The newest AH-64E aircraft, Version 6 (V6), began fielding in January of 2021 and is equipped with the latest communications, navigation, sensors and the first cognitive decision aiding system (CDAS). These systems are a major stepping stone in the Apache program and a key aspect to the Apache’s role in joint all-domain operations and for our international partners. 

(From left) Brig. Gen. Alcides V. Faria, Jr., U.S. Army South deputy commanding general for interoperability, Maj. Gen. Daniel R. Walrath, U.S. Army South commanding general and Command Sgt. Major Trevor C. Walker, U.S. Army South senior enlisted advisor, attend the first Central American Working Group Meeting of Principals March 23

March 25, 2021

Army South, Central American partners hold first-ever Central American Working Group Principals Meeting

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — U.S. Army South hosted the first-ever Central American Working Group Meeting of Principals March 22-23 at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston for army commanders representing El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and the U.S. to plan cooperation activities for the next five years.

The control tower at Imam Ali Air Base Iraq. The tower is being renovated for the Iraqi Air Force by the U.S. Air Force's Aerospace Management Systems Division at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC/HBA), Hanscom Air Force Base. The Air Force elected to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Middle East and Memphis Districts on the project due to their experience in the region and civil engineering expertise.

March 24, 2021

Virtual Collaboration Allows Critical Project to Stay on Track

IMAM ALI AIR BASE, Iraq — A current project in Iraq, to bring Imam Ali Air Base up to operational capability, involves extensive refurbishment and renovation to the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) building, includes new ATCT equipment, supporting airfield electrical power and communications infrastructure, backup power improvement, installation of new ILS/DME and TACAN systems; and a potential renovation of the existing airfield lighting system.  Accomplishing this involves extensive coordination among the Iraqi Air Force, the Aerospace Management Systems Division, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC/HBA) at Hanscom Air Force Base, TAM and Memphis Districts, all while respecting the COIVD restrictions in place.

India, U.S. Look at Ways to Grow Partnership to Protect Indo-Pacific

March 22, 2021

India, U.S. Look at Ways to Grow Partnership to Protect Indo-Pacific

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III came away from his meetings with Indian officials in New Delhi encouraged by the response from "an increasingly important partner amid today's rapidly shifting international dynamics."

DTRA Capacity Building Efforts Enhance Partner Nation CWMD Capabilities

March 19, 2021

DTRA Capacity Building Efforts Enhance Partner Nation CWMD Capabilities

FORT BELVOIR, Va. — In late 2019, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) formed the Building Partner Capacity Integration Cell (BPCIC) to improve capacity building program coordination amongst the agencies BPC programs, external influencers, and partner nations. DTRA’s BPC work has long served to solidify partnerships with foreign nations by working with them to enhance counter-WMD capabilities. This alliance-building approach bolsters our partners but also provides multiple benefits to the United States’ national security.

A man in business attire walks along the tarmac with a woman in a military uniform; a large plane bearing the words United States of America is in the background.

March 19, 2021

In India, Austin Looks for Ways to Increase Cooperation With Allies

NEW DHELI, India — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III commended Indian leaders on their growing roles in the Indo-Pacific region and the growing engagement they have with like-minded partners across the region to promote shared goals.

Photo of Tobyhanna Army Depot Training Instructors Gregory Wirth (left) and Vincent Zuranski (right) pose with students during a recent mission to train Romanian Air Force personnel.

March 18, 2021

Tobyhanna personnel train Romanian Air Force

Tobyhanna Army Depot, PA — Tobyhanna Army Depot personnel extended the organization’s reach last month when they traveled to a seaside community in Romania to train allies of the United States.

Joint Terminal Attack Controllers from the Latvian National Armed Forces conduct close air support training with U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft assigned to the 107th Fighter Squadron, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., at Grayling Aerial Gunnery Range in Waters, Mich., October 29, 2019. Michigan and Latvia have been linked under the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program since 1993.

March 17, 2021

Michigan National Guard think tank boosts Latvian partnership

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan National Guard opened the Kelly Johnson Joint All-Domain Innovation Center at Selfridge Air National Guard Base near Detroit in September to help military planners find innovative solutions to diverse and complex problems affecting the warfighter.

A woman holds a small piece of equipment in one hand.

March 16, 2021

Northcom, Southcom Leaders Discuss Border, Hemispheric Security at Hearing

WASHINGTON — An increase in migrants coming across the southern border, threats to the Western Hemisphere by China, and solutions to those and other problems were discussed at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

Three Chadian Air Force personnel are the first Defense Language Institute English Language Center students to take advantage of the newest curriculum at DLIELC. This curriculum, pairing the latest virtual reality and artificial intelligence technology, aims to familiarize international students with English communications during aviation scenarios.

March 16, 2021

DLIELC state-of-the-art labs give international students authentic experience

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — Three Chadian Air Force personnel are the first Defense Language Institute English Language Center students to take advantage of the newest curriculum at DLIELC. This curriculum, pairing the latest virtual reality and artificial intelligence technology, aims to familiarize international students with English communications during aviation scenarios.

Service members gather around the rear opening of a combat vehicle.

March 10, 2021

Secretary of Defense's Trip to Asia to Focus on Strengthening Partnerships With Japan, Korea, India

PENTAGON — The Defense Department announced the first international trip by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, who will visit three nations in the Indo-Pacific region.

DTRA Side-Steps COVID Challenges

March 10, 2021

DTRA Side-Steps COVID Challenges to Continue Support to International Partners

FORT BELVOIR, Va. — The Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s (DTRA) traditional “boots on the ground” approach to build security cooperation capacity with partner nations met with the unanticipated COVID-19 pandemic.

An Army infantry soldier poses in front of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

March 8, 2021

Women Peace and Security Program Builds International Capabilities

WASHINGTON — No nation can afford to ignore half its population. That's the premise of the United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 on the Women Peace and Security program. It is good to remember this on International Women's Day.

U.S. Embassy Civil-Military Support Element Donates PPE for Frontline Workers

March 5, 2021

U.S. Embassy Civil-Military Support Element Donates PPE for Frontline Workers 

MONGOLIA — On March 5, 2021, U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Gregory May and the Civil-Military Support Element (CMSE) handed over a donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Rapid Antigen Test Kits to the Deputy Minister of Health Dr. M. Battuvshin.