Estonia - Maryland National Guard Partnership

In 1992 US National Guard created a State Partnership Program to develop relations with the countries that regained independence after Soviet occupation. In 1993 Estonia was partnered with Maryland National Guard. Early on the Maryland National Guard added a civilian component to the military cooperation fostering people to people exchanges. As a result of more than 25 years of cooperation many Estonian towns have sister cities in Maryland. For example Tallinn and Annapolis, Tartu and Salisbury, Bel Air and Narva, Viljandi and Cumberland have formed partnerships. Maryland- Estonia Exchange Council is actively promoting Estonia- Maryland ties. Also the cooperation between Maryland National Guard and Estonian Defense League and Defense Forces continues. Maryland National Guard participated regularly at exercises in Estonia (for example cyber training Locked Shields). Their A-10s visit Estonia every second year on average.