Capito, McKinley Congratulate West Virginia National Guard on Its Selection as Qatar’s State Partner

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and U.S. Representative David McKinley (R-W.Va.) today congratulated the West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) on being selected to become Qatar’s partner under the State Partnership Program (SPP). U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary James Mattis made the announcement today while welcoming the Qatar Minister of State for Defense Affairs to the Pentagon.

In February, Senator Capito and Representatives McKinley, Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.), and Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) sent a letter advocating that the WVNG be selected as the National Guard’s State Partnership Program partner.

“I was proud to work together with Representatives McKinley, Mooney, and Jenkins to advocate for West Virginia’s selection,” Senator Capito said. “I especially congratulate the West Virginia National Guard and its brave men and women. There is no other state better suited to assist the Qatar Armed Forces in developing its capacity. I look forward to helping West Virginia develop its relationship with Qatar.”

“The announcement of this new State Partnership between the West Virginia National Guard and the State of Qatar is exciting news. The West Virginia Guard has played a critical role in our state’s disaster response and security operations, and have been a force to reckon with when deployed overseas,” Representative McKinley said. “This new partnership will benefit West Virginia as we learn from their extensive natural gas and energy infrastructure programs.”

In existence for more than 20 years, the State Partnership Program is a voluntary security cooperation tool that pairs U.S. states with foreign nations and allows those nations to conduct joint operations with the National Guard. Partners perform training exercises together, share expertise, and build relationships.

The WVNG has been partners with the country of Peru since 1996, performing more than120 engagements together, and assisting Peru in developing its capabilities in the areas of peacekeeping operations, disaster preparedness, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HADR), and capacity development.

Qatar requested a similar relationship through the State Partnership Program. The Department of Defense, Department of State, and National Guard Bureau all recommended or approved the WVNG and its unique capabilities to provide the Qatar Armed Forces with technical and logistical training to enhance defense preparedness and anti-terrorism efforts. 

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