The Texas Military Department (TMD) and the Chilean Armed Forces are celebrating 16 years of strategic collaboration through the U.S. Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program (SPP), an initiative that underscores the United States’ commitment to global defense, security, and cooperation, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Since its inception in 2009, the Texas-Chile partnership, spearheaded by the Texas National Guard, has become a cornerstone of bilateral ties, showcasing the mutual benefits of international collaboration for hemispheric security, and fostering a strong bond with the Chilean Armed Forces.
For analysts like Guillermo Holzmann, an academic at the University of Valparaíso, initiatives such as the SPP are crucial for countries of the region.
“The long-standing success of this collaboration reflects mutual benefits and particularly highlights the technical and logistical aspects and emphasis on missions with a social impact, clearly demonstrating its usefulness for Chile and the state of Texas,” Holzmann told Diálogo.
Over the course of their partnership, the Texas National Guard and Chile have conducted hundreds of exchanges and completed a wide range of missions, including training and exercises, airborne operations, fixed and rotary aircraft maintenance and flight maneuvers, special forces and engineering exchanges, and homeland and border security response preparedness, as well as addressed newer challenges like cyber defense, among others.
The SPP is one of many programs that exemplifies the United States’ ongoing commitment to Latin American and Caribbean nations. Chile’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (EMCO) views the program as a powerful demonstration of the strong ties between the region’s armed forces and the United States, ultimately acting as a force multiplier to collectively face common threats and adversaries.
EMCO highlights that this collaboration involves experience exchanges in key areas such as intelligence, logistics, peace operations, disaster response, and military support to civil authorities, fostering both interoperability and cooperation.
A commitment that transcends borders
The Chile-Texas SPP’s positive impact was evident in December 2024, when a TMD delegation traveled to Chile to plan more than 30 exchange and training activities for 2025-2026. These initiatives, developed through bilateral meetings between EMCO and the TMD, underscore the deep commitment within this relationship. “This exchange strengthens the collaboration between Chile and the state of Texas, which has been in place since 2009,” said the U.S. Embassy in Chile.
An example of these exchanges occurred in April 2025, with Texas National Guard members visiting the Chilean Army’s Northern Joint Command. Their mission focused on sharing best practices in border security, including the use of advanced technologies and collaborative strategies between military and civilian entities. In addition, the U.S. delegation attended the inauguration of the Border Prosecutor’s Office in Colchane, reaffirming the U.S. commitment to regional security and cooperation.
International competition: A stage for excellence
Another example of the success of this relationship was Chile’s participation in the Best Warrior 2025 competition, which the TMD organized at Camp Swift in late February. At this event, members of Chile’s special forces competed alongside their counterparts from the United States, Egypt, and the Czech Republic in a series of demanding tactical and physical tests.
“These scenarios push us to our limits and reinforce our tactical capabilities,” Chilean Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Manuel Tabilo, who took part in Best Warrior 2025, told Diálogo. “The diversity of tests, from the shooting range to amphibious tests, allows us to measure ourselves against the best in the world.”
Chilean Army Colonel Michael Woolvett, chief of the International Relations Department, also highlighted the benefits of these competitions. “We have been participating in Best Warrior with three officers for years, and we have always placed very well. In fact, we’ve had the top five spots in recent years, with different personnel,” Col. Woolvett told Diálogo. “I think exercises like these are a good way to measure ourselves against U.S. noncommissioned officers.”
Strategic and lasting relationship
“The main advantage of the SPP for Chile is the validation of our processes and the opportunity to learn from countries that have had combat experience in the last 15 years, such as the United States, which is very relevant,” Col. Woolvett said. “The last thing you want is for a country to participate in a war. But having this interaction with personnel who have been deployed in real military operations is very beneficial and valuable, both personally and professionally.”
The SPP not only serves to bolster Chile and the United States’ preparedness and operational capabilities but also underscores the commitment of nations of the Americas in promoting security and combating common adversaries in the region.
