In Sacramento on Thursday, Governor Gavin Newsom rolled out a new military-to-military pact that teams the California National Guard with Mexico’s National Defense Secretariat, aimed at beefing up disaster resilience and tightening border security along the shared stretch of territory.
The letter of intent sets up formal exchanges on firefighting, counterdrug operations and emergency preparedness, giving California and Mexican forces a framework to train together and swap technical know-how across the border. In a press release via State of California, officials said the agreement falls under the U.S. Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program and “will further enhance border security, amplify our tied economic prosperity, and share military expertise.”
Cal Guard Adjutant General Matt Beevers called it a chance to deepen already close cooperation with Mexico, saying the partnership will bolster security coordination and help support economic prosperity across North America.
How the State Partnership Program works
The State Partnership Program links state National Guards with foreign partner militaries for long-term training, disaster-response coordination and civil-military exchanges, according to the National Guard Bureau. The model is designed to improve interoperability and speed up coordinated responses to large wildfires, floods and other emergencies through exercises and technical exchanges.
Border and disaster priorities
California’s announcement says the pact will build on existing cooperation with Baja California and Baja California Sur and formalize channels for joint training and mutual aid. The state noted that more than 400 Cal Guard servicemembers are currently deployed around California, including at ports of entry, and highlighted Joint Task Force Rattlesnake, a firefighting contingent of more than 300 personnel that operates under CAL FIRE…