{"id":32182,"date":"2018-08-26T20:14:06","date_gmt":"2018-08-26T20:14:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/08\/26\/national-guard-troops-may-see-even-more-missions-in-south-america-following-mattis-trip-to-the-region\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:05:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:05:37","slug":"national-guard-troops-may-see-even-more-missions-in-south-america-following-mattis-trip-to-the-region","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/08\/26\/national-guard-troops-may-see-even-more-missions-in-south-america-following-mattis-trip-to-the-region\/","title":{"rendered":"National Guard troops may see even more missions in South America following Mattis trip to the region"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NEW ORLEANS \u2014 The National Guard is playing a pivotal role in Defense Secretary Jim Mattis<\/a>‘ strategy to cultivate allies, particularly those in South America \u2014 where he just returned from a trip to evaluate the United States’ military relationship with Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Colombia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chile in particular, he said, is lobbying for extra support in the cyber domain from the Texas National Guard<\/a>. That plays into the DoD\u2019s strategy of courting old and new allies alike to shore up support in an era of renewed \u201cgreat power competition,\u201d according to Mattis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis department is laser focused on strengthening alliances and building new partnerships,\u201d Mattis said at the 140th National Guard Association of the United States conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, this weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guardsmen, Mattis explained, play a unique role in linking the U.S. military to South American allies, where some perceive Chinese influence<\/a> has grown in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is not a one-time mission, and the Guard is uniquely suited to sustain allied efforts over many years thanks to the amount of corporate continuity you maintain in your ranks,” Mattis said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sgt. Justin A. Porter, a combat medic and firearms instructor with the 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment of the Florida Army National Guard, observes officers with The Royal St. Kitts and Nevis Police Force during the Tradewinds 2018 reflexive live-fire training June 5, 2018, in Basseterre, St. Kitts. Exercise Tradewinds is an annual event that helps build the capacity of U.S. Forces and Caribbean nations to better respond to land and maritime threats through the equal exchange of knowledge and expertise. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Shane Hamann, 102d Public Affairs Detachment)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. defense secretary spent part of his trip to South America this month warning allies of China<\/a>\u2019s \u201cpredatory economics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cornerstone of what Mattis called \u201cmilitary to military” and “human heart to human heart\u201d relations is the Guard\u2019s State Partnership Program, or SPP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program \u2014 which has been ongoing for 25 years \u2014 is administered by the National Guard Bureau with the Defense Department and State Department\u2019s policy goals in mind. Of the 75 countries that have been involved in the program, 24 are located in South America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two new partnerships are starting in 2018: one in Brazil with the New York National Guard, and one in Qatar with the West Virginia National Guard.<\/p>\n\n\n\t