General Joseph L. Lengyel, Chief of the United States National Guard, recently visited Cairo to engage with senior Egyptian officials. The meetings took place on May 16-17 and focused on discussing the U.S.-Egypt defense relationship and exploring ways to strengthen the partnership between the two nations.
During his visit, General Lengyel acknowledged the significant role played by the Egyptian Armed Forces in ensuring security for the Multi-National Forces Observer (MFO) mission in Sinai. U.S. Guardsmen have been involved in this mission since 2002.
"We have had excellent discussions about a range of issues," General Lengyel stated. "The discussions of disaster preparedness and response were especially useful as we were able to learn from the Egyptian experience in handling these challenges. I look forward to building on this and expanding our partnership in these areas."
The National Guard serves as the primary combat reserve for both the United States Army and Air Force, with around 18,000 Soldiers and Airmen mobilized globally. It is also a key military crisis response force within the United States, ready to address domestic threats such as Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) attacks, large-scale natural disasters, and cyber-attacks.
For further details about the National Guard's operations and missions, visit www.nationalguard.mil.