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Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The opening of the Kuçova base by NATO has not gone unnoticed in Russia. Although a little late, the state television, "Russia Today" (Putin's Television) has done a long article, where it has questioned experts to analyze the opening of the base. These experts see the opening of the base as an insult to Russia, as they say that Serbia is most at risk. One of them even declares that later the US may deploy nuclear weapons in Kučovo.
The North Atlantic Alliance opened the first air base in Albania. This was announced by the press service of NATO. The airport is located in the city of Kuçova, 80 km from Tirana.
The total investment in equipment for the air base was approximately 50 million euros. The airport is the biggest NATO project in Albania during the last decade.
During the Cold War, when Tirana was an ally of the USSR, the airfield was used for training against NATO. Its modernization began in 2019. It consisted of the repair of the control tower, runways, hangars and storage facilities.
As the Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, said at the opening of the airport, the Republic of Albania now lives "in another era" and sees "the other side".
" This air base is another element of security in our Western Balkans region, which, as we all know, is at risk due to the threat from the Russian Federation and its neo-imperialist ambitions ," said Rama.
"RT" discussed with experts the goals that NATO is pursuing, opening an air base in Albania, as well as the possible consequences of expanding the presence of the alliance's air forces in Eastern Europe.
-For what purpose did the North Atlantic Alliance open an air base near Tirana? Does this facility threaten Russia's security?
MGIMO professor, expert on the Balkans, Elena Ponomareva: "Any expansion of the Military Infrastructure of the Alliance is a threat to Russia's security. Moreover, Albania has long followed an unfriendly policy towards Moscow and has become one of the outposts of NATO's aggressive expansionist course in the Balkans. However, the current government is not independent in its decisions. Edi Rama is a figure who implements the orders of the Americans and Brussels.
The base in Kučovo will be used not only against Russia, but also against Serbia. This is another tool to put pressure on Belgrade on the issue of Kosovo. It is also symbolic that the base, where NATO warplanes can be stationed, opened shortly before the 25th anniversary of the alliance's barbaric air operation against Yugoslavia.
The opening of a base in Albania should be perceived as a provocation that could lead to an escalation of tension in the explosive region of the Balkans".
Researcher at the RAS Europe Institute, Pavel Kandel: “We are seeing a new step in the expansion of the NATO Military Infrastructure in the east - especially in the Balkans, although there are already a large number of facilities located in this region. For example, the United States can freely dispose of the Camp Bondsteel base in Kosovo. Since the 2000s, it has been used to supply the international mission of KFOR".
Reserve lieutenant colonel, military political scientist, Oleg Shalandin: "I doubt that the air base in Albania has a connection with Russia. However, the Balkans are far away, so we can say that the Alliance has anti-Serbian plans. And Belgrade should worry now, if it does not want to make concessions to the West on the Kosovo crisis and the issue of relations with Moscow.
The countries of the Alliance do not like the fact that Serbia maintains warm relations with Russia and does not impose sanctions on it. This course is supported by the vast majority of Serbs, but the country's leadership is under great pressure from the West.
Perhaps, this is the reason why the prime minister of Albania talked about some "neo-imperialist ambitions" of Russia. They probably meant the extent of Moscow's influence in Belgrade. From this we can conclude that very difficult tests await Serbia's restrained policy".
Retired colonel Anatoli Matviychuk: "The Alliance benefits from the fact that after the terrorist operation in Yugoslavia it gained the opportunity to build a virtually unimpeded Military Infrastructure. In this policy, NATO assigned Albania the role of a provocateur, a kind of antagonist towards Belgrade. Over the past quarter of a century, despite numerous military and political efforts, the United States and its allies have not been able to break the Serbs, force them to recognize Kosovo and renounce their friendship with Russia.
Another motive for NATO to open an air base near Tirana is its operation as a jumping airport in case of aggression against Russia. Now this base will probably be used during exercises to practice attack operations and maintenance of different types of aircraft.
Considering how the security situation in Europe is deteriorating, it cannot be ruled out that the base in Kučovo will become a large logistics and command center. Rockets and aircraft bombs will be stored there, and nuclear weapons may appear over time." / Pamphlet
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