NATO will be establishing a Balkan airbase in Kucova by 2023.
50 million euros are estimated to go into this new military investment that will be paid for by both NATO and the Albanian government.
This will be NATO’s first airbase in the Western Balkans and it is projected to include a series of modern warfare airplanes.
Euronews reported that work on this airbase started back in January. The project seeks to turn Kucove’s existing airbase into a modern operational center.
This former Soviet-era airbase was built back in the 1950s when the country was under Enver Hoxha’s rule.
Viktor Vangjeli served here for 27 years, where he flew MiG-19s before retiring back in the 90s.
The 83-year-old said that transforming Kucova into a modern NATO center will be beneficial for the entire new generation of Albanian pilots who will be trained here.
Albania has been a NATO member since 2009 and is in the process of gaining EU membership.
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