Marshall Islands signs agreement for National Guard State Partnership

BY GIFF JOHNSON
Marshall Islands Correspondent

MAJURO, Marshall Islands — The Marshall Islands joined with National Guard leaders from Guam and the state of Nebraska in Majuro on Aug. 25 to sign the first State Partnership Program agreement, becoming one of a handful of countries globally to partner with two National Guard units.

The signing ceremony brought Brig. Gen. Karin Watson, who heads the National Guard in Guam, and Maj. Gen.Craig Strong, who heads the Nebraska state National Guard, to Majuro to join with the Office of National Security Director Christopher deBrum to sign the agreement.

Officials at the signing said the pact ushers in a new level of United States-Marshall Islands cooperation on many levels, including for disaster preparedness and emergency response readiness.

Marshall Islands President Hilda C. Heine led an A-list of government VIPs attending the ceremony at the Marshall Islands Resort. The program was emceed by Renee Cabral, advisor to deBrum’s office.

With the signing, the Marshalls joins 116 other countries in the world that maintain State Partnership Program links with U.S. National Guard units. In the case of the Marshall Islands, the Aug. 25 signing connects it with National Guards from Nebraska and Guam, making it one of only a few countries with ties to two different states, according to Strong.

The Marshall Islands is now the second freely associated state after Palau to enter the State Partnership Program. Palau has been partnered with Guam’s National Guard since 2024.

An important element of the agreement is that it involves the governors of Nebraska and Guam, both of whom signed the partnership agreement prior to the signing in Majuro.

Nebraska has a small population of resident Marshallese citizens in the state in Wayne and Omaha, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey data.

Acting Foreign Minister Tony Muller said the agreements would “build lasting capacity” in the Marshall Islands for safety, security and the well-being of its people. This included involvement with Marshall Islands authorities for disaster preparation and emergency responses, he said.

Members of these Guard units were in Majuro the week prior to the signing to join in a large-scale emergency response drill for a mock airplane crash into Majuro’s lagoon that was run by the Marshall Islands Ports Authority.

Acting U.S. Embassy Chargé Ruby Marcelo said the signing was a demonstration of the “close partnership” between the two nations.

“RMI is one of the few countries with two National Guard units involved,” Strong said. “The governor of Nebraska is supporting this collaboration.”

He pointed out that the three partners to the agreement will be learning from each other. “The relationship bolsters security and makes each of us stronger, more resilient,” Strong said, adding that agriculture, education, medical and construction were among areas that his unit and state were interested in partnering on with the Marshall Islands.

Watson emphasized that Guam as an island shared experiences with the Marshall Islands. “Guam understands your challenges because we face them ourselves,” she said.

“The signing is not symbolic. It is a commitment to learn, support and grow with one another.” mbj