Albania ties strengthened

Land October 4, 2016

The UK is building a stronger relationship with Albania by working side by side on NATO exercises and beyond, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon MP has said.

British and Albanian forces are currently participating in Exercise Joint Effort, a NATO exercise designed to improve cooperation between allies in the field.

The ten-day field training exercise is being held in the mountain training area of Biza, with around 150 troops from the UK plus Albanian troops and personnel from the US, Kosovo and Montenegro. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon visited the training exercise on a two-day visit to the country, where he also met Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Defence Minister Mimi Kodheli.

Mr Fallon confirmed during talks with Mrs Kodheli that the UK was a ‘firm partner’ of Albania through its NATO links, and that the first ever resident UK Defence Attache would soon be appointed, to work with Albania and help to meet security challenges in the Balkans.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “Albania is a key partner in Southern Europe, an ally which is meeting its security challenges through its NATO commitments and more. Troops from both of our countries enjoy the first class training facilities here, and I look forward to our countries working together further when the UK takes over the Very High Readiness task force next year.”

Exercise Joint Effort is the first major exercise to be held in Albania after the announcement that Albania will contribute a Light Infantry Company to the Very Hig Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) when the UK leads the force in 2017.

An important training destination for the UK, Albania will soon be host to approximately 1,500 Royal Navy personnel taking part in the amphibious exercise Albanian Lion. Joining 250 members of the Albanian Armed Forces, UK participation will include Royal Navy capital ships HMS Ocean and HMS Bulwark, RFA Mounts Bay and MV Eddystone. The exercise will also include lead elements of a Royal Marine Commando group, Royal Navy divers and Commando engineers.

Albanian troops have also recently participated in Exercise Venerable Gauntlet in Germany, bringing together 3000 troops from 14 NATO nations in another major exercise before the UK takes its leading role in the task force.