23 minutes agoBritish media: NATO Base in Albania Warning to Putin
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)“Albania has sent a warning signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin with the construction of a NATO base in Durres”, so the British medium “Express“begins writing. The news reflects Prime Minister Edi Rama's visit to Brussels on Wednesday 13 July with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg to discuss the proposal. Albania [...]
Albania is sending a warning signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin, ahead of a NATO meeting for the new maritime base in the country. The news comes as Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama sits down with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss the proposal. Rama will meet with Stoltenberg on Wednesday week to discuss the project after an announcement that will publish the news on July 1st. The port will be located in Porto Romano, Durres, 40 minutes from the capital and will include a trade section and a military naval base. The financing will be provided by the Albanian state as well as by NATO. Albania currently spends about 1.53% of its annual GDP on defence, well below the minimum figure suggested by 2%, writes British Express.
In May, Rama said his government had offered him NATO Pashaliman naval base. Situated south of Vlora, it was the only basis of the Soviet Union in the Mediterranean during the 1950s, at a time when Albania's communist regime was in line with Moscow. After the fall of communism, it was rebuilt with the help of Turkey, which maintained the right to use. The Albanian Navy still uses the base today for several operations and exercises.
NATO is also transforming a former communist-era military air base into Kuchova. The renovation of the base will cost around 40m euros and will become operational in 2023.
The base will serve as a dump for ammunition, as well as operate as a fuel supply centre. Currently, it is also working on restoring the track and control tower in full use. The original base was built using the work of prisoners under the regime of communist dictator Enver Hoxha.
After nearly 50 years of Communism, Albania came out and turned west, joining the alliance in 2009 and hoping to join the European Union, although it has remained in the union's waiting room for a long time.
According to Globalfirepower.com, Albania currently has 8,000 active personnel in its military ranks. 500 reserve personnel are also available. The army has about 76 armoured vehicles. Albania's current sea assets consist of 19 vessels, all consisting of total patrol ships.
