TIRANA, February 14/ATA/ The winter compacting exercise of the Light Infantry Battalion Group code-named “Sustainable Defense 2024” ended successfully.
On the last day of this exercise, which took place in the region of Puka, there were present President of the Republic Bajram Begaj, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Minister of Defense Niko Peleshi, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Arben Kingji.
In his speech, Defense Minister Niko Peleshi congratulated the servicemen of the Light Infantry battalion group, which is a unit certified by NATO as a force ready for deployment and operation in full interaction with the North Atlantic Alliance and of the other units that were involved in this exercise for their dedication and determination.
“Today’s security environment is characterized by an increasing number of threats and opponents of Western values. Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East have shaken global order and security, bringing the need not only for a joint response from all alliance countries, but also for developing critical capacities and strengthening national resilience, said Minister Peleshi, highlighting the fact that the focus is on what is happening today in our region, which continues to remain a fragile region with provoked tensions that attempt to destabilize it.
According to the minister of defense, these capacities will be tested very soon in function of the large NATO exercise “Steadfast Defender 2024”.
The minister of defense expressed his satisfaction with the fact that this year the pledge for investments in 2 percent of the GDP within NATO, for security and defense, is fulfilled, while he emphasized the continuation of financial and social support for military personnel.
For his part, Commander of the Ground Forces, Major General Ilir Xhebezhia promised that this force will be engaged and will work with dedication, discipline and high professionalism for the realization of every task and in fulfillment of obligations to the Alliance.
The “Sustainable Defense 2024” exercise is part of the annual training and exercise program of the Ground Force for this year and takes place at a key moment, since from November 1, 2023 this force has switched to the new organizational structure, which consists of a more effective military force, complete with personnel, well equipped with advanced weaponry and technology, well-trained and motivated, ready to carry out the constitutional mission in defense of the country./p.s./
