Photo By Capt. Micah Gill | Brig. Gen. Michael Peyerl, director of joint staff, Nevada National Guard, along with...... read more read more
During the last week of November, the Nevada National Guard held its first key leadership engagement in Tonga in more than two years as members of His Majesty’s Armed Forces met with Brig. Gen. Michael Peyerl, Nevada National Guard. Peyerl and delegates from the U.S. Embassy, Suva, also conducted key leadership engagements with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces that began reengaging in December 2021.
“The Kingdom of Tonga, the Republic of Fiji and the State of Nevada have more in common than most people would realize on the surface,” said Peyerl, the Nevada Guard’s director of the joint staff. “Our shared values bind us at a fundamental level. We made tremendous progress during our visit. We discussed our shared goals and global views with our partners and have identified several key areas for shared growth and development. Two years of separation has only strengthened our commitment to the people of Tonga and Fiji. Nevada is ‘all in’ on re-engaging and continuing to grow our state partnership program.”
According to U.S. Embassy officials, the meeting formally reestablished both partnerships. Peyerl and a delegation from the U.S. Embassy, Suva, spoke with key leaders from RFMF and HMAF and also with Hon. Hu'akavemeiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, the prime minister of Tonga, during the visit.
The U.S. delegation visit to Tonga included meeting with acting chief of defense, visiting the Taliai Military Camp, Masefield Base, speaking with environmental, disaster management and police officials. The U.S. delegation also visited areas impacted by the tsunami that ravaged the island kingdom earlier in 2022.
Tonga and the Nevada National Guard have collaborated as a formally recognized partnership since 2014. The Nevada National Guard has also partnered with the Republic of Fiji since 2018.
First started in 1993, the Department of Defense, National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program has sought to strengthen alliances and build partnerships through U.S. National Guard engagements with foreign partners. There are currently state partnerships with 93 nations around the globe.
| Date Taken: | 11.22.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 01.13.2023 13:46 |
| Story ID: | 436610 |
| Location: | NUKU'ALOFA, TO |
| Web Views: | 198 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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