New US military base in Albania to 'counter Russian influence'
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A new US military base is installed in Albania to increase coordination with Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia, North Macedonia and Serbia.
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Kuçova Air Base, Albania.
The United States has completed establishing an Advance Operations Command for the United States Special Operations Command in Europe (SOCEUR), according to a statement by the command.
In the statement, it was explained that the US Special Forces' position is to increase "military coordination" with Balkan allies, such as Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia, North Macedonia, and Serbia, adding that it has a role to counter the "extension of Russian influence."
In 2018, Albanian Foreign Minister Olta Xhaçka expressed Albania's desire for the United States to establish a US military base on its territory to counter Russia's influence.
#BREAKING:
— US Spec Ops Europe (@US_SOCEUR) January 6, 2022
U.S. SOCEUR has made the decision to locate a forward-based SOF headquarters, on a rotational basis, in Albania!
Click here for the full #news release:
🇺🇸: https://t.co/tZEXzILrLC
🇦🇱: https://t.co/476FR2HyTs#SOFinEurope@FA_Shqiptare @MinMbrojtjes @USEmbassyTirana pic.twitter.com/3G27dQvvW6
"We are somewhat concerned by the many threats our region faces," she said, adding, "We believe it is very important that NATO and the United States pay more attention to what is happening in the Balkans."
Albania signed an agreement with US companies last March to convert the Vlora thermal power plant in southern Albania into a liquefied natural gas plant.
It is also noted that Albania recently joined the temporary membership of the UN Security Council. Russia, the United States, China, France, and the United Kingdom are permanent members of the council, and each has veto power.
