Colombo: In a significant step toward enhancing bilateral defence cooperation, the United States and Sri Lanka signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today at the Ministry of Defence, marking a new era in defence partnership. Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) made the opening remarks at the ceremony. US Ambassador H.E. Julie Chung and Brigadier General Trenton Gibson, Adjutant General of the Montana National Guard, signed on behalf of the U.S. Government, while Secretary of Defence Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) signed on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka.
According to Ministry of Defence, the agreement formalises collaboration between the Montana National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard District 13, and the Sri Lanka Armed Forces under the U.S. Department of Defence’s State Partnership Program (SPP). The Deputy Minister, Major General Jayasekara (Retd), underscored the significance of the MOU, stating that it represents a pivotal milestone in the enduring defence
partnership between Sri Lanka and the United States. This landmark agreement underscores shared strategic interests and mutual commitment, paving the way for enhanced collaboration in capacity building, joint training, humanitarian assistance, disaster response, cyber defence, peacekeeping, CBRN response, and leadership development.
U.S. Ambassador H.E. Julie Chung highlighted the importance of the US-Sri Lanka defence cooperation in her remarks and emphasized the deep and enduring friendship between the two nations. She acknowledged the longstanding partnership built on shared values, expressing confidence that the renewed commitments would allow shared training and learning opportunities.
With this MOU, Sri Lanka has formally joined the global network of 115 nations partnered with U.S. state National Guards under the State Partnership Program (SPP). The first series of joint activities under this MOU is planned to be held in 2026 and will focus on disaster response, maritime domain awareness, and professi
onal military education. The partnership will enhance interoperability through joint training, maritime cooperation to counter trafficking and illicit migration, crisis response and humanitarian assistance, aviation operations, and strengthened military-civilian disaster preparedness.
To mark this occasion, the two sides also exchanged mementoes. Commanders of the Army and Navy, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, heads of SL Coast Guard, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and National Authority for Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC), US embassy officials, Montana National Guard representatives, and senior officials from the Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs were also present at the occasion.