The tactical air base of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was inaugurated in Kuçova, Albania, on March 4.

Albania’s Minister of Defense Niko Peleshi stated that the base in Kuçova would be a strategic point in NATO’s peace defense and operations.

“Everything is expected from the eastern front. And we must be prepared to defend ourselves with the only winning formula at the table: the unity of our forces and defensive capacities,” Peleshi said.

He also expressed Albania’s readiness, as a NATO member state, to make the port in Durrës, Porto Romano, available to the Western military alliance. Peleshi mentioned that together with the “Corridor VIII”, it provides the alliance with the shortest axis for crossing from the shores of the Adriatic Sea to the Mediterranean.

Meanwhile, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that efforts were underway with the alliance to make the new NATO naval base in Porto Romano ready as soon as possible.

He emphasized that this base is another element of security for the Western Balkans region, “which we know well is an area endangered by the threats and neo-imperial ambitions of the Russian Federation”.

“The reactivation of this military airport is also part of the revitalization and further qualitative growth of our air force. The two new Blackhawk helicopters as well as the Bayraktar drones are part of an expansion that will continue,” emphasized Rama.

According to Albania’s President Bajram Begaj, in the global situation, which he described as unstable, the country must be ready to defend itself and contribute to the alliance.

“The Kuçova base has a defensive and deterrent mission, an important center for NATO operations to address today and tomorrow’s threats,” President Begaj said.

Representatives of the alliance, as well as the Ministers of Defense of Turkey and Italy, representatives of the US Embassy in Tirana, and Albanian institutions attended the inaugural ceremony.

NATO representative General Juan Pablo Sanchez De Lara stated during the ceremony that Albania is more prepared than ever to take responsibility for ensuring security and peace.

US envoy David Wisner considered the base in Kuçova “a great achievement for regional security”.

The inauguration of this base was also welcomed by the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, who stated that this NATO base would contribute to increased security in the Western Balkans region.

Work on the reconstruction of the base in Kuçova began in January 2022. NATO has invested approximately 50 million euros, and the Albanian government has invested more than 5 million euros.

For Albanian authorities, the choice of the Kuçova base is linked to the country’s geostrategic position, as well as to the Tirana airport itself, and to the credibility Albania has established within the military alliance.

The Kuçova air base was built in the 1950s.

A few days before the inauguration, three Bayraktar drones, purchased by Albania from Turkey, were sent to this base.

At the end of the ceremony, two Black Hawk helicopters, Bayraktar drones, and six Eurofighter F-2000 aircraft flew over the sky of Kuçova.

Albania’s airspace, bordered by Greece to the south and Montenegro to the north, is defended by Italy and Greece.