On a map published on the website of the U.S. National Guard, Greece now appears highlighted in red and marked “TBD.” The technical designation signals Athens’ entry into the U.S. State Partnership Program (SPP), a long-standing initiative that pairs the National Guard of individual U.S. states with foreign armed forces to develop long term defense cooperation.

The program, launched in the early 1990s after the end of the Cold War, has evolved into one of the United States’ most flexible tools of military diplomacy. Through joint training, crisis response exercises and institutional exchanges, it has created enduring security partnerships between American states and more than one hundred countries around the world.

For Greece, the move comes at a time when the strategic importance of the Eastern Mediterranean is growing within U.S. security planning. The partnership is expected to strengthen bilateral military ties while also expanding political links between Athens and influential actors within the American federal system.

The “TBD” designation on the map reflects the next crucial step: selecting the U.S. state that will become Greece’s principal partner in the program.

Florida Emerges as the Leading Candidate

According to congressional familiar with the consultations, Florida has emerged as the leading candidate to partner with Greece within the State Partnership Program. If confirmed, the Florida National Guard would assume the central role in developing long term cooperation with the Hellenic Armed Forces.

The choice of the partner state does not rest with the Greek government. The final decision is made by the National Guard Bureau, the federal body responsible for coordinating National Guard activities across all states and overseeing the State Partnership Program. The chief of the bureau serves as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and advises the president, the secretary of defense and the national security adviser on matters related to the National Guard.

Interest in the partnership has drawn attention from several states. In some cases, that interest has been expressed publicly.

A notable example is Tennessee. On Dec. 11, Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty joined the state’s governor in formally requesting that the National Guard Bureau assign the Tennessee National Guard to cooperate with Greece.

Why Florida Matters

Florida’s potential selection would carry political as well as military significance.

As one of the most populous states in the United States, Florida holds considerable influence in national politics and maintains a large congressional delegation, including members who serve on key committees dealing with defense and foreign policy.

The state also hosts major elements of the U.S. defense and aerospace sector, including military installations, naval facilities and a large commercial space industry centered around Cape Canaveral. These sectors intersect with areas where Greece has been expanding its strategic cooperation with the United States, particularly in maritime security, defense technology and energy infrastructure.

Florida has also become an important center of political activity in the current administration. Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s residence in Palm Beach, has functioned in recent years as a gathering point for political donors and party officials. Several senior figures in the administration maintain strong ties to the state, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Secretary of State and Acting National Security Adviser Marco Rubio.

During the recent presentation of credentials by Greece’s new ambassador to Washington, Antonis Alexandrides, President Trump also referred to the support he receives from the Greek American community, making specific mention of Florida.

The presence of the Greek diaspora further strengthens the political connection. Florida’s congressional delegation includes Representative Gus Bilirakis, chairman of the House Hellenic Caucus, as well as newly elected Representatives Jimmy Patronis and Mike Charidopoulos, whose candidacies were supported by President Trump. Senator Rick Scott, a former governor of Florida, also maintains close ties with the Greek American community.

 The Benefits for Greece

Greece’s participation in the State Partnership Program comes at a time when the United States appears to be reassessing aspects of its military presence in Europe.

From a purely operational perspective, the benefits for Athens may appear limited. Greece is already a member of NATO and maintains extensive defense cooperation with the United States. Interoperability between the two militaries is already well established.

The significance of the program lies more in the realm of military diplomacy.

At a practical level, the partnership will expand opportunities for bilateral training. National Guard units from the United States will be able to conduct exercises in Greece, strengthening the American presence in the region, while Greek forces will gain more frequent opportunities to train in the United States through joint activities with the National Guard.

Unlike large NATO exercises, which involve multiple countries, the State Partnership Program creates stable bilateral relationships. These arrangements allow military officers and defense officials to build long term professional networks and institutional ties, which are often considered a key component of defense diplomacy.

The program also creates a lasting connection with the political leadership of a specific American state. Governors and senators frequently emerge as influential national figures and, in some cases, presidential contenders. Congress also plays a decisive role in shaping American foreign policy, particularly through its oversight of defense spending and arms programs.

In recent years, Athens has increasingly focused on strengthening its relationships with Congress. That effort has often produced tangible results, with American lawmakers influencing the positions of the State Department and the White House bureaucracy on issues of interest to Greece. Participation in the State Partnership Program therefore adds another layer of political connectivity with the representatives of a powerful U.S. state.

The Role of Kimberly Guilfoyle

A country’s accession to the State Partnership Program is usually not a rapid process. In Greece’s case, the request was submitted nearly a year ago through established institutional channels.

On Nov. 13, 2025, Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle publicly announced that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had approved Greece’s participation in the program, emphasizing that the new relationship with the National Guard would expand cooperation and joint training between the two sides.

According to sources familiar with the consultations, her intervention helped accelerate the completion of the process by roughly three months.

For Athens, the development represents another step in the gradual deepening of U.S.–Greek defense ties, at a time when security dynamics in the Eastern Mediterranean continue to draw increasing attention in Washington.