According to the Ministry of Defence, the pre-deployment exercise reflects the strong spirit of cooperation and coordination among NATO allied nations.

During the training activities, personnel from both countries are engaging in joint tactical and operational procedures, exchanging expertise and strengthening their capabilities to effectively carry out missions within the framework of the Alliance.

“The professionalism, readiness, and high level of preparedness demonstrated by our troops remain key guarantees for the successful execution of every Land Force mission. Together, we are stronger, more united, and better equipped to serve peace and collective security,” the Ministry of Defence stated.

The participation of the Albanian Armed Forces in this mission underscores Albania’s continued commitment to NATO and its contribution to strengthening the Alliance’s collective defence and security objectives.

1 of 5

/k.s/r.e/u.sh/

The NCSA strengthened national capacity and fostered inter-institutional expertise by coordinating experts from key national institutions.

The process was led by a joint task force comprising the NCSA, the Armed Forces Academy, Albania Cyber Command, and the State Intelligence Service, in close coordination with key representatives from critical and important information infrastructures.

The exercise featured advanced cyber crises, focusing on defending critical infrastructure, securing SCADA/OT systems, managing 5G networks, and accelerating real-time incident response.

By taking part in Locked Shields 2026, Albania is strengthening cross-sector collaboration and hardening defenses for national critical systems under real-time, high-pressure scenarios.

/j.p/p.s./

The published images show personnel executing a variety of combat scenarios in the field, demonstrating precise tactical movements, coordinated group operations, and the ability to carry out missions under operational pressure.

The exercise appeared focused on rapid response and handling dynamic situations on the ground.

Troops were equipped with camouflage uniforms, modern ballistic helmets, and integrated communication systems, enabling continuous contact during tactical operations.

/m.m/j.p/u.sh/

Allied and partner nations participated in the activity, featuring air assets from France, Slovenia and Albania, as well as Special Forces from Poland, while Georgia, Serbia, Croatia, and India joined as observers.

Representing Albania’s Air Force, a team of 11—including pilots, technicians, mechanics, and board operators—participated with a Cougar helicopter and a Land Rover tactical vehicle.

This exercise strengthens allied interoperability and supports NATO’s readiness objectives for air capabilities.

During the execution phase, the Armed Forces crew completed five troop transport missions totaling 10 hours and 10 minutes, along with two reconnaissance missions. /m.m/j.p/p.s./

The training forms part of strategic cooperation between Albania and the United Arab Emirates.

According to AKSK, the exercise aimed to strengthen institutional and cross-sector capacities for preventing, responding to, and recovering from cyber incidents, enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure and public trust in digital services.

AKSK Director General Igli Tafa highlighted the importance of such drills, which not only improve technical teams’ readiness but also bolster national security amid increasingly complex international cyber threats.

The authority said the activity represents a key step in building a sustainable and reliable cybersecurity ecosystem in Albania, aligned with the highest international standards.

/e.i/r.e/u.sh/

Over 1,000 personnel from 18 NATO member and partner countries participated in this exercise from September 8-11 in the city of Montana, Bulgaria.

Director General of the National Civil Protection Agency Haki Çako, the Commander of the South-East Europe Brigade, General Bilbil Bitri, as well as the Commander of the Civil Emergency Support Battalion, Colonel Hajdar Gurra attended the Distinguished Visitors’ Days. The senior leaders observed the Albanian team participating in the exercise.

Equipped with modern equipment, logistical means and operational capacities, they cooperated with teams from other NATO and partner countries, demonstrating national capacities to operate according to the same standards for emergency management.

The participating teams aimed at strengthening their ability to manage complex emergencies in a challenging security environment. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

Minister of Defense Pirro Vengu shared today in the social media photos from this exercise, which as he put it, has become a long-standing tradition.

“The personnel of the Naval Force Diving Unit conducted a joint exercise with their colleagues from Kosovo Security Force in Pashaliman. This is a long-standing tradition that guarantees operability, inter-action and increased capacities for underwater missions,” Vengu wrote in his post in the social media. /gj.m/p.s./

The Ministry of Defense reported that this exercise was held according to the NATO standards manuals at sea.

Also, the Ministry of Defense added that, “Our crew tested the operational and interoperability capabilities with allied ships and crews.”/a.f/r.e/p.s./

In a post on the social media, the government head underlined that the “Defender Europe ‘25” is among the largest and most complex military exercises in the last decade, highlighting Albania’s strategic role in regional defense.

“The military exercise is taking place under the U.S. European Command leadership in close coordination with the NATO allies, with Albania, a host nation, playing a strategic role in ensuring success of the planned operations,” PM Rama wrote.

According to Rama, “Defender Europe ’25” aims to strengthen interoperability, enhance military readiness, and boost allied capacity to respond rapidly to threats across the Euro-Atlantic area.

Troops from the Albanian Land Force departed from the Zall-Herr base toward the Bizë Training Center, marking the formal start of the multinational exercise. Bizë Training Centre will host intense phases of the military drills, including offensive and defensive operations, and strategic deployments in rough terrain.

The U.S. European Command-led multinational military exercise, aimed at demonstrating NATO’s ability to defend its eastern borders and to strengthen readiness and cooperation among its allies and partners, will last until June 9, 2025.

/k.s/a.f/r.e/u.sh/

The U.S. European Command-led multinational military exercise is an annual large-scale and one of the most complex multinational, joint exercises in Europe and Africa in the last decades.

The exercise, due to last until June 9, aims to demonstrate NATO’s ability to defend its eastern borders and to strengthen readiness and cooperation among its allies and partners.

“Defender Europe 25” (DE25) is a US-led series of large-scale military exercises involving multiple countries in Europe and focusing on the deployment of personnel and equipment for large-scale combat operations under the NATO’s Article 5 to respond with self-defense actions. DE25 is designed to prepare for sustained combat operations in multiple theaters. The exercises include training to defend important facilities, securing embarkation points, as well as offensive and defensive operations in strategic regions of Albania and Kosovo.

The exercise demonstrates the commitment of European nations to increase the scale, capability and interoperability of their own armies

“Defender Europe 25” will also demonstrate Albania’s unwavering commitment to allies and NATO partners, as an opportunity to show readiness of the Armed Forces to serve alongside the country’s strategic partners in the Western Balkans and in Europe.

DE25 involves multiple European countries, including Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Slovakia, and others.

/r.e/u.sh/