Tennessee–Bulgaria National Guard Partnership
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The Tennessee–Bulgaria National Guard Partnership is one of 25 (through 2023) European partnerships that make up the U.S. European Command State Partnership Program and one of 88 (through February 2023) worldwide partnerships that make up the National Guard State Partnership Program. The Republic of Bulgaria joined by signing a bilateral affairs agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense and the state of Tennessee in 1993. Since 2015 Bulgaria also contributes troops to the Resolute Support Mission as a member of NATO.[2]
Part of the U.S. European Command State Partnership Program | |
Origin | 1993 |
---|---|
Country president | Rumen Radev |
Prime minister | Galab Donev |
Minister of defense | Anyu Angelov |
Ambassador to U.S. | Tihomir Stoytchev |
Ambassador to Bulgaria | Hero Mustafa |
Adjutant general | Terry M. Haston |
1993 - 2013 Engagements | 1000+ events[1] |
NATO member | Yes (2004) |
EU member | Yes (2007) |
Tennessee and Bulgaria were paired because they share similar geographical and cultural features. During the years since 1993, they have exchanged hundreds of soldiers on travelling contact teams and familiarization visits. Tennessee soldiers have also participated in major military exercises in Bulgaria sponsored by the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army in Europe, such as Cornerstone,[3] Bulwark;[4] etc. Many Bulgarian villages have been influenced in a positive way through Humanitarian Assistance initiatives in conjunction with Mil-to-Mil interaction.