Speeches & Testimony

Mr. Speaker, Aloha and Mabuhay!

I rise today to recognize and commemorate the 25th anniversary of the State Partnership Program (SPP) between the Hawai’i National Guard and the Armed Forces of the Republic of the Philippines.

The SPP pairs state and territorial National Guard units with partner nations worldwide. It helps build enduring, mutually beneficial relationships to enhance security cooperation, advance U.S. interests and improve partner nations’ military readiness.

The SPP partnership between the Hawai‘i National Guard and the Philippines, initiated in 2000, was one of the earliest in the Indo-Pacific under this program, and it remains the longest-standing such partnership in the region. Over the past quarter century, the partnership between Hawaii’s citizen soldiers and airmen and their Philippine counterparts has steadily progressed, encompassing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, joint training exercises, strategic planning and multilateral regional engagement.

The 25th anniversary of this agreement showcases an important and long-lasting commitment to mutual security, shared values and an enduring friendship between our two democratic nations.

This great SPP’s success lies in its foundation of trust, mutual respect and cultural understanding. Hawaii’s geographic location and strong cultural and historical ties to the Philippines have made our state an ideal bridge between our two militaries. This special relationship has not only strengthened defense readiness but also developed personal connections that enrich both our communities.

I would also like to acknowledge the role of our partners in Guam, who have joined this trilateral cooperation in recent years. Their collaboration strengthens the regional fabric of security and partnership.

On this 25th anniversary, I wish to recognize all those who have contributed to this partnership’s success. The enduring engagement between the Hawai‘i National Guard and the Philippine armed forces has advanced the strategic goals of a free and open Indo-Pacific and strengthened the bonds between our two great nations.

Let us honor this important milestone not just as a celebration of the past but also as a reaffirmation of our shared future. I look forward to many more years of partnership and shared commitment to peace and prosperity between America and the Philippines under our SPP.