“Expansionist course”: experts talk about the danger of launching the first NATO airbase in Albania

The North Atlantic Alliance opened the first air base in Albania.

This was reported by the NATO press service.

The airfield is located in the city of Kucova, 80 km from Tirana.

The unit’s center for future air operations, logistics support infrastructure and pilot training are deployed at the facility.

“This airbase will become an important NATO aviation hub.

The modernization of the Kucova airbase is a strategic investment that proves that NATO continues to strengthen its presence in the Western Balkans, a region of strategic importance for the alliance,” said Dylan White, an official representative of the North Atlantic Alliance, at the opening of the airfield.

In addition to him, the launch ceremony of the air base was attended by the top officials of Albania, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, Turkish Lieutenant General Göksel Kahya, Director General of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) Stacey Cummings and the commander of the Torrejon Joint Air Operations Center, Lieutenant General Juan Pablo Sanchez de Lara.

The total investment in equipment for the airbase was approximately €50 million. The airfield is the largest NATO project in Albania over the past decade.

During the Cold War, when Tirana was an ally of the USSR, the airfield was used for counter-NATO exercises.

Its modernization began in 2019.

It consisted of repairing the control tower, runways, hangars and storage facilities.

As Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said at the opening of the airfield, the republic now lives “in a different era” and occupies “the other side.” 

“This airbase (will become -

RT

) another element of security in our Western Balkans region, which, as we all know, is in danger due to the threat from the Russian Federation and its neo-imperialist ambitions,” Rama said.

RT discussed with experts the goals that NATO is pursuing by opening an air base in Albania, as well as the possible consequences of expanding the presence of the alliance’s air force 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 alliance’s military infrastructure is a threat to Russia’s security.

In addition, Albania has long been pursuing 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 carries out orders from the Americans and Brussels.

• An Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft at an air base in the Albanian city of Kučova, March 4, 2024.

• AFP

The base in Kučov will be directed not only against Russia, but also against Serbia.

This is another tool for putting pressure on Belgrade on the Kosovo issue.

It is also symbolic that the base, where NATO warplanes can be deployed, was opened shortly before the 25th anniversary of the barbaric air operation of the alliance 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 Balkan region.

Researcher at the Institute of Europe RAS Pavel Kandel:

“We are seeing a new step in the expansion of NATO’s military infrastructure to the east - in particular 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 KFOR's international mission.

Reserve Lieutenant Colonel, military political scientist Oleg Shalandin:

— I doubt that the airbase in Albania has anything to do with Russia.

Still, the Balkans are too far away, and therefore we can say that the alliance is harboring anti-Serbian plans.

And Belgrade needs to 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 alliance countries do not like the fact that Serbia maintains warm relations with Russia and does not impose sanctions against it.

This course is supported by the overwhelming majority of Serbs, but the country's leadership is under enormous pressure from the West.

Perhaps that is why the Prime Minister of Albania spoke about certain “neo-imperialist ambitions” of Russia.

They probably meant the degree of Moscow's influence on Belgrade.

From this we can conclude that very difficult tests await Serbia’s restrained policy.

Retired Colonel Anatoly Matviychuk:

“The alliance takes advantage of the fact that after the terrorist operation in Yugoslavia it gained the opportunity to build a military infrastructure virtually without hindrance.

In this policy, NATO assigned Albania the role of a provocateur, a kind of antagonist to Belgrade.

Over the past quarter century, despite military and numerous political efforts, the United States and its allies have not been able to break the Serbs, force them to recognize Kosovo and renounce friendship with Russia.

• NATO air base in Eastern Europe

• AFP

• © Raul Mee

Another motive for NATO to open an air base near Tirana is to operate it as a jump-off airfield in the event of aggression against Russia.

Now this base will probably be used during exercises to practice attack operations and maintain various types of aircraft.

Considering how the security situation in Europe is deteriorating, it cannot be ruled out that the base in Kučov will become a major logistics and command center.

Aircraft missiles and bombs will be stored there, and over time nuclear weapons may appear.

— NATO does not hide the fact that air bases in Eastern Europe have been significantly updated in recent years.

This is not just about the Balkans.

The modernization affected facilities in Romania, Poland and the Baltic states.

What is the reason for this policy?

Can Russia counteract it?

Elena Ponomareva:

— Of course, NATO seeks to use Eastern Europe as a springboard for military pressure on Russia and Serbia.

To this end, several waves of alliance expansion to the east were carried out.

The only difference is that recently the alliance has been more actively using territories near our countries to create military infrastructure. 

Without airfields, the Americans will not be able to quickly concentrate troops and massively use aviation. 

Pavel Kandel:

— Since 2014, NATO has been striving to solve a large-scale logistics problem - to ensure the rapid transfer of troops and their deployment on the so-called eastern flank, that is, on a potential theater of military operations.

At the same time, the number of these groups and the speed of bringing them into combat readiness are increasing every year.

It is for this that the alliance needs to maintain several full-fledged air bases in Eastern Europe.

From this point of view, it is beneficial for NATO to use the capabilities of Ukrainian infrastructure.

Let me remind you that in 2018, the alliance and Ukraine held the Clear Sky air exercises.

They were attended by the military of the USA, Great Britain, Poland, the Netherlands and other Western countries.

One of the episodes was the use of American F-15 fighters and C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft. 

• Polish Air Force 33rd Air Base, which is used by American aircraft

• AFP

• © JANEK SKARZYNSKI

Thus, NATO demonstrated its ability to use Ukrainian aviation infrastructure.

I think that in Russia such maneuvers did not go unnoticed.

Actually, the special operation is precisely aimed at eliminating the possibility of any military development of Ukrainian territory.

Anatoly Matviychuk:

— The Americans have invested quite a lot of money in modernizing the airfield network in Eastern Europe.

This is part of a strategic plan to increase military pressure on our country.

The Alliance seeks to demonstrate to us “resolve,” a willingness to use force.

Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron completely allowed the deployment of troops to Ukraine.

Yes, he did not specify in what form this could be implemented.

But who knows, maybe there was talk of deploying a NATO presence to operate the promised F-16 or other aircraft.

In Kyiv they would definitely be happy about this.

Another thing is that NATO members need to understand that such antics will end badly for them.

Any goal in Ukraine is legal for us.  

Oleg Shalandin:

— NATO does not begin hostilities without achieving air superiority.

For this reason, the alliance pays so much attention to the modernization of air bases.

Let me remind you that Yugoslavia was destroyed precisely as a result of an air operation.

However, a quarter of a century has passed since then.

The practice of special operations convincingly proves that air defense systems are capable of causing significant damage to aircraft.

In terms of providing air defense, Russia has gained invaluable experience, which is reflected in the improvement of locators, air defense systems and ammunition.

Therefore, the development of our air defense and means of destroying airfield infrastructure is the most adequate response to the expansion of the alliance’s aviation presence near Russia’s borders.