Albania Inaugurates Refurbished Soviet-Era Air Base as NATO Hub

The newly renovated Kucove Air Base, Albania's first NATO hub in the Western Balkans, aims to enhance regional security amid Russian threats.

NATO member Albania has inaugurated the Kucove Air Base, a refurbished Soviet-era facility, to serve as a modern hub for training and hosting fighter jet operations.
The air base's renovation, funded by NATO with around 50 million euros, includes upgrades to control towers, runways, hangars, and storage facilities.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama highlighted the base's reopening as crucial for bolstering security in the Western Balkans against neo-imperialist threats from Russia.
The inauguration featured flyovers by U.S. F-16 and F-35 fighter jets from Aviano Air Base in Italy, demonstrating NATO's operational capabilities.
Albania, a NATO member since 2009 and a candidate for EU membership, is also in talks with NATO to build a naval base on the Adriatic coast.