PRINTER'S NO. 1488
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 263
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY MASTRIANO, APRIL 5, 2024
REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
APRIL 5, 2024
A RESOLUTION
1 Urging the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to select
2 Pennsylvania as the new State partner with the Kingdom of
3 Sweden under the State Partnership Program.
4 WHEREAS, The State Partnership Program (SPP) has established
5 a proven track record of fostering long-lasting and mutually
6 beneficial relationships between the National Guard units of
7 various states and partner countries around the world,
8 contributing significantly to global peace, security and
9 stability through collaborative training, defense cooperation
10 and cultural exchange activities, as evidenced by the program's
11 expansive portfolio of successful partnerships spanning over
12 three decades; and
13 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania, through its National Guard, has
14 maintained a robust and exemplary partnership with Lithuania
15 since 1993 under the auspices of the SPP, demonstrating
16 Pennsylvania's capacity to engage in effective bilateral
17 cooperation, which has resulted in numerous joint training
18 exercises, leadership development initiatives and strategic
 1 engagements, thereby enhancing military interoperability,
2 fostering democratic values and strengthening international
3 ties; and
4 WHEREAS, Sweden's recent decision to join the North Atlantic
5 Treaty Organization (NATO) marks a pivotal moment in its defense
6 policy, reflecting a commitment to collective security and
7 stability in the Euro-Atlantic area, and underscoring the
8 importance of integrating Sweden into established security
9 frameworks and cooperation mechanisms with NATO member states
10 and partners; and
11 WHEREAS, Sweden's strategic geographical location, advanced
12 military capabilities and long-standing commitment to promoting
13 regional security and cooperation make it a pivotal player in
14 Northern Europe, whose partnership within the framework of the
15 SPP would not only bolster the defense capabilities of both
16 Sweden and its partner state but also contribute to the security
17 and stability of the NATO alliance and its adjacent areas; and
18 WHEREAS, This partnership would leverage Pennsylvania's
19 proven track record of successful international military
20 cooperation, its established infrastructure for supporting such
21 partnerships and its alignment with the strategic objectives of
22 both Sweden and NATO, thereby fostering a more secure and
23 cooperative international environment; therefore be it
24 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
25 urge the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to select
26 Pennsylvania as the new State partner for the Kingdom of Sweden
27 under the State Partnership Program; and be it further
28 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the
29 Chief of the National Guard Bureau and the relevant committees
30 of the United States Congress to express our firm support for
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1 the establishment of a Pennsylvania-Sweden partnership under the
2 State Partnership Program, in recognition of the mutual benefits
3 such a partnership would entail for both parties and for the
4 broader objectives of global peace and security.
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