WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), along with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the entire Tennessee Congressional delegation, sent a letter to General Steven S. Nordhaus, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, urging him to support assigning Greece as an additional partner nation to the Tennessee National Guard under the State Partnership Program. This decision would support U.S. priorities in the region, give the Tennessee National Guard access to new training opportunities, and improve regional stability and military readiness. 

This partnership is a natural fit for Tennessee, given the state’s existing air refueling mission with the 134th and the Hellenic Air Force’s standing as one of NATO’s largest and most capable air forces. Together, these strengths create meaningful opportunities for future training and cooperation.

Adding Greece as a Tennessee National Guard Partner Would Improve Military Readiness

“We write in support of assigning the Hellenic Republic of Greece as an additional partner nation to the Tennessee National Guard under the State Partnership Program (SPP). For more than thirty years, the Tennessee National Guard has demonstrated exceptional success and strategic value through its longstanding partnership with the Republic of Bulgaria, one of the earliest and most effective relationships in the SPP. Tennessee is uniquely positioned to expand this success by partnering with Greece to enhance regional interoperability while improving Guard readiness.”

Partnership with Greece Would Give the Tennessee National Guard Additional Training Opportunities and Advance American Interests

“Tennessee would also benefit from a partnership with Greece. We understand that the Tennessee National Guard would gain access to additional training opportunities across air, land, maritime, and cyber missions, improving readiness here at home. A new partnership would also open doors for Tennessee businesses and strengthen academic collaboration, research, and student exchanges. Adding Greece as a second partner will build on Tennessee's thirty years' success with the program, strengthen U.S. relationships abroad, and advance American interests in a strategically important part of the world.”

Click here to read the full letter.

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