At the launch ceremony of the exercise in the port of Durrës, the commander of the U.S. European Command, Air Force Gen. Tod D. Wolters praised Albania as a nation that has played a major role in peace in the region and Europe.

“Today we have proof of what we need to do, we need to improve the strategic transparency lacking since 1940. We need to remember what happened during World War II. The invasion of Normandy, all the logistics on land and sea, we will land today and understand what a difficult test this is,” Walters said.

“This is a joint Logistics Over-the-Shore operation taking place “for the first time in Europe since World War II at the Port of Durres,” he said.

“I thank this nation, an exporter of security. The way we understand this, the moment when you have shown this since joining NATO, has given us a safer Albania, a safer western part, a safer Mediterranean and Europe. We feel safer, we are stronger together, “General Walters added. //a.i/