US Security Force Assistance Brigade Activated in Albania, Peleshi: We strengthen our presence in NATO missions

The United States Security Forces Assistance Brigade (SFAB) is activated in Albania, a team that will support and advise the Second Infantry Battalion of the Land Force.
At the ceremony organized on this occasion, in the presence of Defense Minister Niko Peleshi and US Ambassador to Albania Yuri Kim was stressed the importance of interactivity among NATO allies on a new ground for world security.

In his speech, Minister Peleshi appreciated the continuous support and assistance that the US has given to the Armed Forces. "This group-battalion is our main objective in NATO and we are working intensively to make possible the realization of all obligations in this framework and obviously the assistance of the American team is of special importance. I am convinced that your work will bear its fruits and will culminate with the successful certification that this structure will undergo during the month of September of this year.", - said the Defence Minister.
Highlighting the extremely important decisions taken at the NATO Summit in Madrid as well as the adoption of the Alliance's new Strategic Concept, Minister Peleshi guaranteed to strengthen Albania's commitment alongside its military allies.



"Albania will not only continue to be part of the troops in the eastern wing of the Alliance with our presence in Latvia, but will also increase its contribution in Bulgaria, within the new group-battalions, which will be created in some of member countries of the Alliance. We will continue to fulfill our obligations in the Alliance with seriousness and professionalism, and your duty, is to make the most of this opportunity given to you to further increase operational standards in order to be interoperable with your counterparts." , - Minister Peleshi emphasized.

In her speech, American Ambassador Yuri Kim praised the activation of the Security Forces Brigade and the assistance of the US army as an important step to take US-Albania relations to new heights. "It is important that you fulfill all your objectives that were also discussed at the NATO Summit. The world has changed, there are new challenges that must be met. Every ally must be ready, prepared, and for this reason we are satisfied with today's strength in order to be ready, for NATO to be ready. Under the leadership of Minister Peleshi and Brigadier General Kingji, the Albanian forces continue to improve through modernization, infrastructure development and structural changes that will play an important role, not only for Albania, but for regional and global security. The interoperability of NATO tools is crucial.", - Ambassador Kim assessed.