Botswana and the United States are deepening their defence cooperation after a joint military exercise in Gaborone that expanded training into cyber defence, space operations and multi-domain planning.
Exercise Southern Accord 2026, held from Aug. 10-15, brought the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) together with the North Carolina National Guard (NCNG) for training aimed at improving interoperability, operational planning and responses to shared security challenges.
The exercise marked another step in a defence partnership between the NCNG and BDF that dates back to 2008 under the US State Partnership Program, which supports military exchanges, joint training and professional development.
This year’s exercise was broader than previous editions, with the US Space Force participating for the first time alongside US Africa Command (AFRICOM), the NCNG and BDF.
Training included defensive cyber operations, space operations, military intelligence, joint planning and a staff exercise designed around a multi-domain threat scenario.
US Air Force Col. Anthony Sullins, the exercise’s deputy director, said participants were challenged to work across multiple domains and integrate military and civilian planning into a joint task force.
BDF Major General Simon Barwabatsile said the exercise demonstrated the two countries’ commitment to military professionalism and cooperation, while strengthening relationships built on shared objectives.
In turn, US Ambassador to Botswana Howard A. Van Vranken described the exercise as evidence of an enduring partnership, saying Southern Accord 2024 had strengthened how the two sides trained together, while the 2026 edition focused on how they plan together.
He called for the lessons and capabilities developed during the exercise to be carried into the next edition, Southern Accord 2028.
The growing defence relationship comes as Botswana also expands its engagement with the United States in the space sector.
In June, Botswana became the sixth African country to sign the Artemis Accords, joining a US-led framework promoting peaceful, transparent and responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond.
The timing highlights the increasingly broad scope of US-Botswana cooperation, extending beyond conventional military training into cyber and space capabilities.
The State Partnership Program itself is not limited to defence. It also encourages cooperation between military and civilian institutions in areas including education, science and technology and agriculture.
Building on previous exercises
Southern Accord 2026 builds on earlier exercises between the two countries.
The 2024 edition focused on practical capabilities including humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, peacekeeping and aeromedical evacuation.
In 2025, Botswana joined the NCNG and other partner countries for a hurricane-response symposium examining lessons from Hurricane Helene.
The 2026 exercise shifted the focus toward planning and coordination across multiple operational domains, reflecting the changing nature of security challenges.
