On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at the Hôtel des Armées, Côte d’Ivoire officially joined the State Partnership Program (SPP) of the U.S. Department of Defense, in partnership with the Pennsylvania National Guard. The ceremony was attended by Minister of Defense Téné Birahima Ouattara and Her Excellency Jessica Davis Ba, U.S. Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire.

According to the Minister of Defense, the program will provide the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire with structured support, expertise sharing, and enhanced interoperability with U.S. forces.

Minister Téné Birahima also took the opportunity to extend his best wishes for health and success to Ambassador Jessica Davis Ba, who is concluding her mission. He expressed his deep gratitude for her significant contribution to strengthening military cooperation between the two countries