Home | News & Events | Visit of Acting Assistant Secretary of State Philip T. Reeker to Tirana
Acting Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Ambassador Philip T. Reeker visited Tirana today. During the visit he met with Prime Minister Rama, Democratic Party Chair Lulzim Basha, several fully-vetted members of Albania’s justice system, and other leaders. In all meetings, Acting Assistant Secretary Reeker emphasized the importance of U.S.-Albanian relations over the past 30 years since Albania rejected communist dictatorship in favor of democracy. He underlined President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken’s determination that the fight against corruption, including through designations under 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2021, is a core national security interest for the United States. He congratulated Albania’s leaders on their success in hosting Exercise Defender Europe 21, which
President Meta, Prime Minister Rama, Ministers and Generals, Mr. Basha, men and women in uniform, dear friends,
What a beautiful day to showcase our militaries and Exercise Defender Europe 2021, which is the largest U.S.-led military exercise ever seen in the Western Balkans!
This is landmark moment for U.S.-Albanian cooperation in defense. It is also a landmark moment for the NATO Alliance. The Exercise is well underway now, and it is shaping up to be a huge success. Defender 21 has been a military success.
In the past weeks, soldiers from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Romania, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States have been training together to strengthen our readiness, capabilities, and interoperability so that NATO Allies and Partners can accomplish any mission on land, across the sea, and in the air.
NATO kicks off Steadfast Defender 2021 exercise
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NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu moderates a media briefing on the alliance s Steadfast Defender 2021 exercise, which kicks off this month. Photo courtesy of NATO
May 6 (UPI) More than 20 NATO allies and partners from North America and Europe will participate in the NATO exercise Steadfast Defender 2021, which kicks off this month, the alliance announced Thursday. Exercise Steadfast Defender 2021 will test NATO s readiness and military mobility - with forces deploying across land and sea, all the way from North America to the Black Sea region and off the coast of Portugal, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a press release.
Home | News & Events | Remarks by Ambassador Yuri Kim at Defender Europe 21 Opening Ceremony Distinguished Visitors Day at the Port of Durrës
President Meta, Prime Minister Rama, Generals, Ministers, distinguished guests. What a glorious day we have before us. I thank you for inviting me to speak on this historic day. I want to commend the Albanian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense for organizing today’s extraordinary ceremony and I have to say our soldiers and sailors are looking spectacular!
I want to especially welcome Generals Wolters, Harrigian, and Cavoli to Albania. It is a truly rare occasion when three American four-star generals are gathered in one place at the same time. Thank you for being here. We are honored to join you in kicking-off Exercise Defender Europe 21. Your presence reaffirms that Albania’s leadership role in this exercise is significant, and that Albania’s role in the Alliance is increasing.
Defender Europe 21: A Historic Milestone for the Western Balkans nationalinterest.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nationalinterest.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.