Albania does favor for NATO amid rising Russia fears — RT World Information

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has reopened a Soviet-era airfield, saying his nation wants to supply one other base of operations for NATO plane, regardless of having no navy jets of its personal. He mentioned the transfer was wanted to guard in opposition to Russian expansionism.

The long-dormant Kucova Air Base, situated about 85 kilometers (53 miles) south of Tirana, was formally reopened on Monday. The inauguration ceremony follows a two-year refurbishment and modernization undertaking – at a price of €50 million ($54 million) to NATO – and the bottom will present the Western navy alliance one other place for plane refueling and ammunition storage.

Kucova provides “one other component of safety for our Western Balkans area, which we all know properly is endangered from neo-imperialist threats and ambitions of the Russian Federation,” Rama mentioned at Monday’s ceremony. After his speech, two US F-16s and different NATO fighter jets flew over the bottom, and two Eurofighter Typhoons landed.

The bottom had grow to be a graveyard for rusting Soviet plane after being closed in 2005. The close by city, Kucova, was nicknamed “Stalin Metropolis” when it hosted MIGs, Antonovs and different Soviet planes throughout Albania’s communist period. Albania joined NATO in 2009, and the nation seeks to grow to be an EU member. “Right this moment, we dwell in a unique period, and happily, Albania is on the opposite facet,” Rama mentioned.

Rama’s authorities is reportedly additionally in talks with NATO to construct a naval base on its Adriatic coast, in Port Romano. The PM has lined up firmly behind the bloc’s anti-Russia members, internet hosting a regional summit final week to assist Ukrainian Prime Minister Vladimir Zelensky plead for extra navy support.

Tirana additionally hosted a go to final month by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The US diplomat boasted throughout a press briefing with Rama that Albania had been one of many first international locations to ship weapons to Kiev after Russia launched its navy offensive in opposition to Ukraine in February 2022.