Today, a NATO tactical airbase was inaugurated in Albania, which, according to the Albanian authorities, gives the country new geostrategic importance.
The opening ceremony of the air base in the town of Kučova, in the district of Berat, was attended by the President of Albania Bajram Begaj, the President of the Assembly of Albania Lindita Nikola, the Prime Minister Edi Rama, the Minister of Defense of Albania Niko Peleshi and other cabinet ministers. Kosovo Defense Minister Ejup Macedonci, North Macedonia Defense Minister Slavjanka Petrovska, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, representatives of NATO and Alliance member countries were also present.
Albanian President Bajram Begaj pointed out that this base is the result of cooperation, solidarity, coordination between allies and the attention that Albania pays to security and defense.
“From this base, together we send a strong message of peace and prove that NATO is determined to protect the freedom and security of allies, guaranteeing collective defense,” said Begaj.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Lindita Nikola, said that it is difficult to find a member country of the Alliance that, only after a decade and a half of membership in the Alliance, has become a worthy partner, sincere and effectively contributing to the protection of peace and security.
Albanian Prime Minister Rama said that the base is another element of security for the Western Balkans region, which is exposed to “threats and neo-imperialist ambitions of the Russian Federation.”
“I want to express my special thanks to everyone who contributed, starting with our NATO allies, with the hope and belief that this new NATO tactical air base will be followed in the years to come by the new NATO naval base in Porto Romano (Durres), in we are closely cooperating with NATO and we are very confident that we will soon be able to enjoy the news of the inclusion of this project in the plans of the Alliance”, said Rama.
Albanian Defense Minister Niko Peleshi said that the base is one of NATO’s biggest investments in that country, which will serve as a tactical and operational airbase.
“Kuchova will serve as the main base for our Air Force, for which attention and investment will not stop until the creation of a dignified fleet in the service of the defense of our people and our allies. Black Hawk helicopters, provided with the support of our partner US Strategic Special Forces, as well as Bayraktar drones in “In cooperation with the Republic of Turkey, they are currently in full readiness to fly from this base. Their number will increase significantly in the near future,” said Peleshi.
The Turkish military representative in NATO, General Yuksel Kayhan, emphasized that he wants the Kučovo air base to be a good sign for Albania and the Alliance.
“Turkey and Albania, as two NATO allies, have close cooperation for security, peace and regional stability. Strengthening Turkey as an important partner in the military aspect is of critical importance for the strength and effectiveness of the Alliance in the region,” said Kayhan.
The commander of NATO’s combined air operations center, General Juan Pablo Sanchez De Lara, said that Albania is fully integrated into NATO’s air defense system.
“The opening of the Kučovo air base proves that our alliance is very engaged in the region. I am sure that this air base will be in line with NATO standards and will improve interoperability, resilience and cooperation within the Alliance,” De Lara said.
In Albania, there are several military complexes inherited from the communist period, and in recent years the focus has again been on the Kučovo base, which has been upgraded to the first NATO air base in the Western Balkans.
NATO, as a member of the alliance, chose Albania for the construction of its first tactical air base in the region, and in January 2022, field work began on the implementation of the project, AA writes.
