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KUÇOVA, Albania – Service members of the New Jersey National Guard and Albanian Armed Forces met March 4, 2024 to commemorate the inauguration of Republic of Albania’s NATO air base in Kuçova, Albania.
“The significance of the armed forces and the government to be an active partner increases the capacity of NATO, the U.S., and all our allies in the region to make the world a safer place,” said U. S. Air Force Colonel Yvonne L. Mays, Chief of Staff-Air, New Jersey Air National Guard. “Albania’s location, size, and will of the armed forces is crucial towards sustaining peace in the region.”
The inauguration ceremony, attended by high-ranking officials including Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, showcased the air base’s transformation into a state-of-the-art operational hub capable of hosting and training various fighter jets.
The event saw a symbolic display of military proficiency with a flyover of two U.S. F-16s and two F-35s, alongside two Eurofighters from Aviano Air Base in Italy. This showcase was a collaborative effort between NATO allies.
“This base stands as a monument of cooperation, solidarity, cohesion and unity among the Allies and Albanian commitment to collective defense,” Rama said. “The construction of this base, as well as our engagement in NATO, are not only investments in our defense, but also in the future of our children and the generations that will come after us; they are proof of our commitment to work together with our allies to build a safer world for all.”
The base, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure, will be a hub for joint training exercises, intelligence sharing, and coordinated operations among NATO member states. Albania’s accession to NATO in 2009 and its candidacy for EU membership underscore its evolving role as a critical player in regional security dynamics.
“The inauguration of the NATO base in Albania marks a significant milestone in the alliance’s ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation and solidarity among member states, ensuring a credible and effective defense posture in an unpredictable security environment,” Mays said.
Kuçova is about 52 miles south of the Albanian capital of Tirana. The air base is a testament to Albania’s commitment to modernizing its defense infrastructure and enhancing its strategic position in the region.
“Albania is a valued ally with a long history of stepping up to support NATO allies and partners you contribute to the multi-national forces helping to deter any aggression,” said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. “Albania also plays a key role in promoting stability and corporation across the Western Balkans a region of strategic important to NATO. All these strong contributions show Albania’s commitment to our alliance.”
The robust NJNG staff presence at the event underscored the State Partnership Program between New Jersey and Albania, which has grown over more than two decades since the fall of communism in the Western Balkans.
“This move adds to global security and further enforces democratic values through the support of the military,” said Col. Barbara Brown, director, J9 Joint Resiliency, NJNG.
The Department of Defense's State Partnership Program is managed and administered by the National Guard Bureau. It is a U.S.-sponsored security cooperation program that supports the security cooperation objectives of the United States and the geographic combatant commands by developing enduring relationships with partner countries and carrying out activities to build partner capacity, improve interoperability, and enhance U.S. access and influence while increasing the readiness of U.S. and partner forces to meet emerging challenges. The State Partnership Program began in 1993 with 13 partners. Thirty years later, the program has grown to more than 100 partner nations and is an essential U.S. security cooperation tool that facilitates collaboration across all aspects of civil-military affairs.
| Date Taken: | 03.04.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 04.08.2024 11:57 |
| Story ID: | 467903 |
| Location: | TIRANA, AL |
| Web Views: | 44 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, NJ Guard visits Albania in support of Albania’s Inauguration of NATO Base, by 1st Lt. Tyshawn Jenkins, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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