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Ranking Member Subramanyam’s Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on the National Guard State Partnership Program

June 25, 2025

Washington, D.C. (June 25, 2025)—Below is an opening statement, as prepared for delivery, from Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Military and Foreign Affairs.  The remarks were delivered at today’s hearing on supporting the National Guard’s State Partnership Program.

Click here to watch the video. 

Opening Statement
Ranking Member Suhas Subramanyam
Subcommittee on the Military and Foreign Affairs
“The National Guard State Partnership Program: Strengthening U.S. Security, One Partnership at a Time”
June 25, 2025

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I appreciate all the witnesses for coming today.

The National Guard is a unique branch of the U.S. military with dual state and federal missions.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with the Virginia National Guard in my time serving in Richmond and in Congress, and I appreciate the great work they do to protect the Commonwealth and the nation.

The State Partnership Program (SPP) is a critical component of the Guard’s global military readiness and America’s partnerships around the world.  For more than three decades, the program has built relationships between the National Guard of every state, territory and D.C., and 100 nations on every continent.

These partnerships support joint training exercises, disaster response and humanitarian aid, counterterrorism and counter-trafficking activities, and more.

The Virginia National Guard currently maintains two relationships under the SPP.

Virginia has been partnered with Tajikistan since 2003.  Tajikistan is a former Soviet Republic, and the partnership has helped both sides develop counterterrorism, emergency response, and mountain warfare expertise.

Last year, Virginia also finalized a second partnership with Finland.  This builds upon a longstanding relationship between Finland and Virginia—our troops served alongside each other in Bosnia in 2001-02.  Under this new partnership, we are focusing on cyber threats, cold weather tactics, and much more.

The State Partnership Program is an important component in America’s diplomatic efforts, and these relationships have proven crucial in improving cybersecurity, disaster response, and even the war in Ukraine.

I want to once again thank the witnesses for joining us today and I look forward to learning more about the State Partnership Program and how we can support it here in Congress.

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