Minister of Defense Ermal Nufi published today in the social media footage from this exercise at the Pashaliman Naval Base.

Nufi wrote that our personnel have demonstrated outstanding professionalism and rigorous preparation. “Their advanced skills guarantee success in safeguarding our national security. We are incredibly proud of our team’s unwavering commitment,” appreciated Nufi.

The Special Forces Battalion is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and backed by extensive operational experience across domestic, NATO, EU, and UN missions.

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During the meeting in the Hysni Aruçi room, the delegation was briefed on our national infrastructure and support capabilities for upcoming joint allied exercises.

NATO representatives got acquainted with the Port of Durres and Porto Romano to evaluate logistics and housing for STDT 27. Albania, along with regional partners, is hosting the upcoming exercise.

Dozens of NATO operational and tactical personnel will participate, with real-time updates on troop and vehicle movements.

This visit enhances institutional coordination, cementing Albania’s crucial role as a reliable NATO partner and logistical hub in the region. /p.s./

Minister of Defense Pirro Vengu appreciated the significance of this meeting of the chiefs of staff of the armies of the three countries.

“More military cooperation, more interoperability, more operational readiness,” Vengu wrote.

He added that the three countries will focus on holding joint exercises and training to face security challenges and hybrid threats.

“During the current year 2026, there will be held the first trilateral exercise, in accordance with NATO’s Strategic Concept and Euro-Atlantic objectives,” Vengu wrote.

Kosovo, Albania, and Croatia are thus materializing the defense cooperation they agreed upon when the defense ministers signed a joint declaration on March 18 in Tirana. /m.q/j.p/p.s./

General Arben Kingji shared footage from the training, saying the regiment was continuing preparations for a new generation of special forces operators.

“The 15th Basic Course is now in its most intensive phase, which involves testing trainees’ endurance and resilience to the extreme,” Kingji said. “This training process, conducted to the highest professional standards, aims to forge an elite force, ready and capable of successfully completing any task or mission.”

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Albania’s Ministry of Defense shared some images from the Adriatic Sea where the Naval Force “Oriku” ship participated in the regional exercise “ADRION LIVEX 25” in Montenegro, together with the naval forces of the six Adriatic and Ionian countries.

The “ADRION LIVEX” exercise, which takes place every year, aims to promote cooperation and mutual understanding as well as increase interoperability between the naval forces of Adriatic – Ionian Initiative (ADRION), through scenarios related to maritime security in the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. /e.i/p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared today in the social media moments from the activity organized at the end of this exercise, which took place in several countries in the region, including Albania, Kosovo, Croatia, North Macedonia and Montenegro.

Rama appreciated that, “The exercise once again demonstrated the professionalism and dedication of our Armed Forces under the leadership of the US European Command, in close cooperation with the NATO allies and partner countries”.

The “Defender ’25” exercise focused on developing capabilities for full-spectrum operations, including the deployment of forces, protection from conventional and non-conventional attacks, protection of critical infrastructure and implementation of joint operations in multidimensional environments.

Albanian forces played a key role in leading and implementing training scenarios from the Zall-Herr region, in close cooperation with the Multinational Brigade Headquarters and officers from the US, Kosovo and Croatia. /m.m/a.f/p.s./

In his remarks to the event, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Arben Kingji highly praised the commitment of the Albanian Armed Forces and the contribution of the allies in meeting the common objectives.

He emphasized that the active participation of the Armed Forces, with troops, assets and infrastructure, is a clear indicator of their professionalism and readiness to face the challenges of the contemporary security environment.

The exercise took place in several countries in the region, including Albania, Kosovo, Croatia, North Macedonia and Montenegro.

Albanian forces played a key role in leading and implementing training scenarios from the Zall-Herr region, in close cooperation with the Multinational Brigade Headquarters and officers from the US, Kosovo, and Croatia.

Lieutenant General Kingji particularly thanked the US Forces Europe and Africa Command for choosing our region as the host country for this major exercise for the third consecutive year, describing it as evidence of the strategic partnership between Albania and the USA. /m.m/ j.p/p.s./

Minister Vengu was accompanied on this visit by Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Arben Kingji.

During the visit, the Minister of Defense and other senior leaders of the Armed Forces closely followed the tactical demonstrations and the engagement of the troops concentrated on the ground, within the framework of the final phase of the exercise.

Director of the General Staff, Brigadier General Ardian Lilo then briefed the minister on certain aspects of the “Defender 25”, including the preparatory phase, planning, international participation, strategic objectives, engaged capacities and lessons learned.

Vengu expressed his gratitude and thanks to all participating personnel, highly appreciating the dedication, professionalism and high level of cooperation shown during all phases of the exercise.

The visit ended with a joint lunch as an expression of respect for the engaged personnel in the ‘Defender 2025’ exercise. /a.f/p.s./

The Ministry of Defense said today that a group of drones has been used for the first time in such an exercise at this level.

The exercise is carrying out search and rescue operations with Cougar and Blackhawk helicopters from Farka Air Base to support ground operations and readiness for MEDEVAC/CASEVAC medical evacuations.

Regional cooperation and coordination with civilian institutions such as Albcontrol and international partners such as the Kosovo’s Security Force (KSF), makes this exercise an important step towards increasing security and readiness in the region, the Ministry of Defense said.

Yesterday, the multinational exercise “Defender Europe 25”, one of the largest and most complex exercises of the last decade in Europe and Africa, started in Albania. Led by the United States European Command (USEUCOM) and conducted in cooperation with the NATO allies and strategic partners, the exercise will last until June 9, 2025.

“Defender Europe 25” exercise aims to improve the readiness, interoperability and ability of US, NATO and partner forces to act in a coordinated manner in a complex operational environment. The scenario is built according to Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, which simulates the collective defense of allies in the event of an attack on any of them.

The military activities will include a series of large-scale operations in several European countries, with a particular focus on Albania and Kosovo, where training will be conducted on the protection of critical infrastructure, securing embarkation points and managing advanced logistics. /a.f/r.e/p.s./

Minister Vengu emphasized the fact that this battalion-group has already met the criteria for the “Combat Ready” category, a certification that will continue to be important for the Armed Forces over the next four years.

“Exercises are the best tool, besides war, to ‘test’ whether personnel, equipment and procedures interact properly and yield the necessary result in the operation. Therefore, the “Arbër Shield-25” exercise is rather important”, said minister of defense in his speech at this ceremony.

Minister Vengu highlighted the use of modern capacities in this exercise such as drones, high-encryption communication systems and weapons with NATO standards, thus confirming the group-battalion as an operational structure. He said that, “We are moving quickly towards rearmament”.

This Light Infantry Battalion Group deployment exercise precedes preparations for hosting the NATO exercise “Defender 2025” in our country and participation in other NATO exercises: Immediate Response – 25, Suber Guardian – 25 and Swift Response – 25, where the Land Force and the Light Infantry Group-Battalion have the main weight. /m.m/j.p/p.s./