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| Albanian snipers in training, source: Facebook |
Albania is stepping up its military game with the inaugural "Strong Balkan '23" exercise, which is being held in Zall-Herr for the first time. This event, organized by the General Staff of the Albanian Armed Forces, aims to bring together special forces from eight Balkan countries. The goal is to foster better regional cooperation, enhance professional competence, and provide a platform for tactical, operational, and strategic training. This is particularly important in the face of complex challenges that the region is currently facing.
The Albanian Armed Forces, which consist of the General Staff, the Albanian Land Force, the Albanian Air Force, and the Albanian Naval Force, are led by the President of Albania, who serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the nation's military en.wikipedia.org. The Defence Minister, who serves under the President, exercises the administrative and operational authority over the military en.wikipedia.org.
The Albanian Land Force, or the Albanian Army, consists of the Rapid Reaction Brigade, a Commando Regiment, and the Area Support Brigade. The Special Operations Battalion, part of the structure of the Albanian Commando Regiment, will be participating in the "Strong Balkan '23" exercise en.wikipedia.org.
The exercise will provide an opportunity for the participating forces to enhance their skills and capabilities. It will also allow them to address complex challenges together, thereby fostering better regional cooperation. The Albanian Armed Forces have been involved in several international operations, including peacekeeping missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In his post on Facebook, General Major Arben Kingji, the Chief of Staff of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, expressed the hope that the "Strong Balkan '23" exercise would help to strengthen regional defense and security. He emphasized the importance of regular professional training to meet the challenges of the current security environment.