Seychelles and New Mexico National Guard Sign Security Partnership Pact
VICTORIA, Seychelles
Major General Miguel Aguilar of the New Mexico National Guard and Chief of Defence Forces Major General Michael Rosette signed the memorandum of understanding at Bel Eau headquarters yesterday afternoon. The ceremony was witnessed by Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ian Madeleine and United States charge d’affaires Adham Loufti.
The State Partnership Program pairs a United States state National Guard with the military or equivalent security and disaster response forces of a partner nation. According to Major General Rosette, Seychelles will gain from cooperation in areas such as professional military education, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, maritime and border security, cybersecurity collaboration, and operations planning.
Major General Aguilar highlighted the recognition of Seychelles investments in its defence capabilities. He noted that New Mexico offers a lasting pledge to a shared future in building military capability and capacity through shared experience. This partnership will foster enduring security and prosperity not just for the United States and New Mexico, but fundamentally for the people of Seychelles, he stated.
Principal Secretary Madeleine underscored the importance of partnerships for small island developing states in strategically vital maritime regions. He stressed that cooperation with the United States has been crucial in addressing evolving challenges such as maritime security threats, transnational crime, disaster response, and capacity building. The programme provides an important framework for long-term institutional cooperation between the government of Seychelles and the New Mexico National Guard.
The partnership formalises cooperation expected to include joint training opportunities and exchanges.
