CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state adjutant general predicts movement “pretty quickly” on a new partnership between the West Virginia National Guard and Qatar, part of the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program.
“The normal process is an initial military-to-military engagement and that’s why we’ll have this important role,” said Maj. Gen. James Hoyer.
“Then it can also advance into military-to-civilian and civilian-to-civilian.”
Earlier this month, Governor Jim Justice met with Qatar Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Washington, D.C.
Hoyer said they identified commonalities between West Virginia and Qatar, especially when it comes to agriculture and energy opportunities and that’s just the start, in his view.
The partnership was later announced.
“The Guard will then be that entry point that will allow us to start to discuss things cooperatively in other areas like cultural exchange and economic opportunities,” Hoyer said.
Initially, Hoyer said the goals will be to increase military and diplomatic cooperation, develop and expand defense capabilities, address terrorism and identify mutually beneficial training interactions.
Over the years, Hoyer noted, West Virginia has invested a lot in its Guard.
“This is a great example of how, when you do that and make those investments, good things come about.”
Qatar is the host site for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Next year, West Virginia welcomes Boy Scouts from the around the world for the 2019 World Boy Scout Jamboree.
“We’ll certainly invite our partners to the Boy Scout Jamboree and (they can) work side by side to understand how we work and manage events,” Hoyer said.
Qatar is the second nation to partner with the West Virginia National Guard as part of the State Partnership Program under the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Secretary of State.
A partnership with Peru dates back to 1996.