The existing military infrastructure in Albania doesn’t meet NATO Alliance requirements, claims Aleksandar Radić, a military analyst. In an interview for Pobjeda daily, Radić says Tirana has been trying to get NATO’s support for financing part of their needs and that is why some think NATO is building an air base in this country.
“If NATO assists Albania or some other country to build a base, it doesn’t mean NATO owns it. That base would belong to Albania and military units can come there and have their trainings,” explained Radić.
For a quick recap: Two days ago, Albania Prime Minister Edi Rama announced NATO was going to invest over €50m for modernization of air base in Kučova. The Alliance approved the decision to build the first air base in the Western Balkans in Albania. The above-mentioned sum will be allocated just for the first phase of this project, according to Rama. PM also added Kučova will be serving as the national base for Albania air forces and that this investment introduced a new standard for armed forces of Albania.
Commenting on Rama’s announcements, Radić reckons Albania actually wants to boost their national defense capacities although being short of cash and capacities.
