Training cooperation with the Colorado National Guard: Chief of the Armed Forces in the US for State Partnership Program ceremony
Bern, 27.07.2026 — From 26 to 29 July, Chief of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Benedikt Roos will visit the US state of Colorado. He will attend a State Partnership Program (SPP) ceremony in Denver. The ceremony will be attended by Colorado Governor Jared Polis and the Commander of the Colorado National Guard, Major General Robert B. Davis.
The partnership with the Colorado National Guard under the SPP was approved by the Federal Council in September 2025. The priority areas of cooperation set out in the Letter of Intent include cybersecurity, space, the protection of critical infrastructure, medical services and logistics. The partnership facilitates training cooperation and enables the Swiss Armed Forces to enhance their defence capabilities.
The Swiss Armed Forces and the US National Guard are both based on the militia principle, and they have a similar range of tasks. Colorado is also the US state with the highest average elevation, with mountainous regions comparable to the Alps. Possible joint activities include mountain specialist training and the sharing of expertise in disaster relief and transport in alpine terrain. This cooperation therefore allows the Swiss Armed Forces to develop their capabilities without creating obligations or dependencies. It is compatible with neutrality.
A first ceremony marking Switzerland's participation in the SPP was held in Switzerland in September 2025. Following the second ceremony in the US, the Chief of the Armed Forces will hold talks on the implementation of the partnership. A visit to the Colorado Army National Guard High-Altitude Aviation Training Site (HAATS) is also planned.