Department of Defense 

State Partnership Program (SPP)

1
Mission

Mission Statement: SPP supports the security cooperation objectives 

of the United States and Geographic Combatant Commands (GCC) by 

developing enduring relationships with partner countries and carrying 

out activities to build partner capacity, improve interoperability, and 

enhance U.S. relations, while increasing the readiness of the U.S. and 

partner forces to meet emerging challenges. 

The Indiana Air National Guard’s 122nd Fighter 

Wing hosts members of Niger’s armed forces.

2

• SPP is a Department of Defense (DoD)

Security Cooperation Program

• State Department Concurrence

• Managed by the National Guard Bureau

• Executed by the COCOMs

• Sourced by the National Guards (NG) of the

U.S. States and Territories
SPP History

• Established in 1993 to assist ten

former Soviet Union and Yugoslav

countries

• SPP is authorized by law (section 341

of Title 10, United States Code) and

governed by DoD Instruction 5111.20

• Focused on building partner military

capacity and defense capability thru

relationship building

• Now includes 106 partner nations.

• Continues to grow with an average of

two new partners per year

3

1992: Then-Chief of the NGB, Lt Gen John B Conaway, 

lays a wreath at the Freedom Monument in Riga, Latvia

2018: Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and Polish Defense 

Minister Mariusz Blaszczak mark SPP’s 25th anniversary
Tailored approach per country:

• Developed with COCOM and Embassy

• NGB BAO at each post

• Senior Leader engagements

• Subject Matter Expert exchanges

• Familiarization visits

• Cooperative training and exercises

• Co-deployments

What Does SPP Do?

Historic Areas of Focus:

• Disaster response / emergency response

• Leader, staff, officer & NCO development

• Aviation operations, maintenance & safety

• Cyber defense & communications security

• Infantry tactics

• Engineer activities

• Counter-terrorism

• Military medical

Soldiers from Hungary, Serbia, and the Ohio National 

Guard practiced small unit infantry tactics at the 

“Neighbors 2018” exercise in Hungary

4
5

-Building Relationships, Access and Influence-

• Best return on investment

Ø Less than 1% of the $6B Security Cooperation budget

Ø 20-30% of all COCOM engagements are SPP

• Key Leader Engagement with Presidents, Prime Minister, Minster of Defense, Chief of

Defense

• Supports Country Team, Partner Nation and COCOM Objectives (5 Year Plan)

• Whole of Society approach (Diplomatic, Informational, Military, and Economic)

Ø Beyond Defense

Ø Civic Institutions (Governance, Economics, Law Enforcement)

Ø Academia

Ø Medical community

Ø Humanitarian Assistance / Disaster Reduction

SPP Strengths
6

SPP Map 
How are Partnerships Developed?

Requests State Partnership

Endorses partnership concept & provides request(s) to OSD/JS

Coordinates w/ OSD(P) & JCS J5;

Performs selection analysis and 

nominates state partner

Endorses partner selection & 

coordinates with US Ambassador

Endorses partner selection & 

notifies requesting country Endorses partnership concept

Approves of state partner – Partnership activities begin

Request Approval

Combatant 

Commander

Chief, National 

Guard Bureau

Requesting 

Nation

US Ambassador

OSD Partnership 

Strategy

Joint Staff J5

SECDEF icw SECSTATE Makes 

Selection and Tasks States

States self-nominate

Selects which country(ies) and forwards to CNGB

Provides information 

and nomination 

packets to the states