TIRANA, May  22 /ATA/ The US ambassador to our country, Yuri Kim, stated on Monday that Americans and Albanians stand side by side.

At the launch ceremony of the largest military exercise in Europe, “Defender Europe 23”, Kim said: “Look around you today at a changed Albania and this is historic. We are in “Mother Teresa” square, in a democratic Albania, surrounded by hundreds of men and women in uniform from the USA, Albania and many other allied countries, launching an international military exercise, “Defender Europe 23.”

She emphasized that, “we are here as allies, friends and partners. Americans and Albanians stand side by side as you say. Once separate, now they are NATO allies and closest military partners.”

Kim added that, “in two years, since “Defender Europe 2021”, the world has changed, Russia launched a full-scale and brutal invasion of Ukraine. The US, Albania and our NATO allies are more united and stronger than ever. I can’t help but remember the words of Scanderbeg, the National Hero of Albania and even my personal hero: “Unity makes power.”

“From ‘Defender 21’ to the preparation of ‘Defender 23’, Albania and the USA are doing more together than ever before. We have taken great strides together as allies and security partners. We have established the first two US military presences in the history of Albania, the regional forward headquarters of the US Special Operations Command, the Task Force for the Balkans, as well as the rotating unit of the US Security Forces Brigade and assistance. These achievements are accelerating the pace of our military relationship and the importance of the US-Albania strategic partnership. Our international partnerships are more important than ever,” said Kim.

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