KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica and the United States are seeking to strengthen military relationship as part of the National Guard State Partnership Programme.

A government statement today said that Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Antony Anderson, and senior Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) officers have returned from the US where they held discussions with the counterparts on improving relations between them.

The visit included meetings with senior officials of the US Department of Defense, US Army and District of Columbia National Guard (DCNG) and tours of the Pentagon and DCNG training facilities, the statement said.

DCNG Commanding General, Major General Errol R Schwartz, is quoted as saying that the visit is a way to strengthen professional bonds between the National Guard and the JDF.

"This is our time to discuss continued mutual support through the State Partnership Programme and plan what kind of subject matter and expert exchanges between our forces would be mutually beneficial,” he added.

The National Guard State Partnership Programme provides capacity-building resources to combatant commanders and US ambassadors through partnerships between American states, territories and the District of Columbia, and foreign countries.

The 20-year-old programme is a key US security cooperation tool, facilitating cooperation across all aspects of international civil-military affairs and encouraging people-to-people ties in 65 countries