Defence Minister Olta Xhaçka paid an official visit to Pentagon, the second within a year, where she was welcomed by the Secretary of Defense on duty Patrick Shanahan.
The Defence Minister described the United States of America as a great friend and ally of Albanians. According to her, the future of the region would have been different without the support of this Strategic Ally.
“Let me express the gratitude of the Albanian government to the United States administration for standing very firmly on our side on the key reforms that we are undertaking to build stronger democratic institutions and strengthen the rule of law and especially on the reform of our justice system which is crucial to our EU integration process. We hope that within this year we will break ground on the Alliance Air Base in our region, in Kuçova, a development that I believe recognizes Albania's role as an anchor of stability in the region but also increases our strategic importance to the Alliance as a whole,” - said Minister Xhaçka.
She assured the US senior official that Albania will continue to be a worthy ally.
“You can always count on us when you need us. Our soldiers are your soldiers,” she said.
For Secretary Shanahan, Albania is a strong partner, while accentuating, among other things, our country’s commitment to peacekeeping missions as well as the Albanian government’s target of granting to Defense 2% of GDP.
“The relation between our countries is strong. I want to thank you for the contribution and the fact that you have been a model ally.” - he said.
Regarding the Russian risk in the region, two senior defence officials of Albania and the United States declared that the two countries are also strong partners in the face of this danger.
Another good news during the visit of the Defense Minister Olta Xhaçka to Washington was the agreement with the US Department of Defense on the modernization of the Albanian Armed Forces, especially the Air Force, through the acquirement of some “Black Hawk” helicopters.
The agreement also provides for the maintenance of these tools as well as ongoing training of Albanian pilots and technicians.
