TIRANA, April 18 – In a meeting with US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis at the Pentagon on Wednesday, Albanian Minister of Defense Olta Xhacka suggested this week the US should set a permanent military presence in Albania to counter anti-Western influences in the region.
In the context of Albania’s NATO membership and its role as a stabilizer in the region, Xhacka said the country does not want to be influenced by Russia’s “destabilizing” propaganda, investments and “hybrid actions” in the region.
“We must send a very strong message that the Western Balkans is a West-oriented region and that we all share and look to strengthen our common values and principles by enhancing our strategic cooperation,” Xhacka said.
Also mentioning other potential influencers, she added the country’s ground, air and naval bases are available for the US to use.
“We will continue playing a constructive part to ensure the region’s peace, security and prosperity in the region. The US can rely on us. We believe it’s time to see its footprint in Albania. A US/NATO presence in Albania would be proof this area is not forgotten by our allies. We are ready to offer our naval bases and our ground/air/naval capacities.”
Xhacka added the country is ready for an increased US defense industry presence in Albania, and suggested for Albania to serve the US or NATO as a contact point for the entire region.
Mattis, on the other hand, thanked Albania’s NATO commitment and its engagement in all NATO operations.
“Albania has shown that its geographic size is much less important than its commitment to the Alliance. As a firm ally, Albania hits harder than its size,” Mattis said before the meeting between the countries’ delegations began.
More precisely, Xhacka suggested to offer Albanian shipyards, a military airport for planes to refuel and a training ground in the Elbasan area. In addition, she said there is a wide variety of areas in Albania where the US could invest.
She said that during a meeting with Lockheed-Martin Company in Washington she’d offered the firm to increase its air and sea monitoring activity in Albania.
Xhacka’s meeting with Secretary Mattis comes the same week Albania was given an unconditional recommendation from the European Commission to open accession negotiations with the EU, in the context of the its enlargement policy.
“This is something the Albanian people have anticipated for years, and I believe a crucial perspective that will move the country in the right direction,” Xhacka said.
