Senior leaders from the Massachusetts National Guard recently joined their counterparts from the Kenya Defence Forces in Rome for the 2026 African Land Forces Summit. This significant gathering, held on 23-24 March, served as a testament to more than a decade of cooperation under the State Partnership Programme. By fostering enduring military-to-military relationships, the programme continues to bolster global security and regional stability while enhancing combined warfighting capabilities. This year, the collaboration focused heavily on the pressing needs of cyber defence and the countering of unmanned aircraft systems to address a rapidly shifting threat landscape.
The summit was hosted by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, and operated under the theme of empowering shared security through intelligence, innovation, and industry. Major General Gary Keefe, the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard, stood alongside Lieutenant General David Ketter, commander of the Kenyan Army, to engage with over 300 senior leaders from approximately 40 nations. The discussions moved beyond traditional military strategy to emphasise the integration of dual-use technologies and the involvement of capital investors, ensuring that African land forces remain equipped to handle modern challenges through industrial partnership.
Since its inception in 2015, the partnership has evolved into a multifaceted alliance encompassing joint military training, emergency response coordination, and medical missions. Notable achievements include the refurbishment of 144 M1117 armoured vehicles for counter-terrorism operations and significant community engineering projects, such as the expansion of the Kwa Njenga Primary School in Nairobi. Through multinational exercises like Justified Accord, troops from both nations continue to refine their skills and improve interoperability, ensuring they remain prepared for a future where technological parity with adversaries is a constant concern.
“Technology is evolving so rapidly that if we do not stay ahead of it, if we do not innovate and bring in defence industry partners as we did here at the Africa Land Forces Summit, we risk falling behind, and that will cost lives,” remarked Major General Gary Keefe.
