"Defender Europe '23" ends, Pelesi: Concrete example that NATO and allies are stronger together

The multinational exercise "Defender Europe '23" concluded its activities in the territory of Albania. In the ceremony held on this occasion, in the garrison of Zall-Herri, Minister of Defense Niko Peleshi assessed that this exercise, in addition to testing the elements of deployability and interoperability in response to crises, in a wide range of operations as well as the capabilities and potential of the countries host, also transmitted a very powerful message, that of unity. "Such exercises clearly demonstrate the commitment of the US and NATO as guarantors of order and security in the Euro-Atlantic area. "Defenderi" is a clear and concrete example of the fact that NATO and its allies are stronger together, contributing and investing in the increase of collective defense capacities", emphasized Peleshi. Peleshi said that Albania proved that it offers an excellent experience in terms of hosting and conducting military exercises on such a scale, reconfirming the capabilities of the Armed Forces to be interoperable with the sister armies of the Alliance. "As Minister of Defense, I express the all-round support of the government as well as my personal commitment that we will work tirelessly for the modernization of the Armed Forces in order for them to be equipped, trained and supported at all times, to make it possible the fulfillment of the constitutional mission and obligations within NATO", stated Peleshi. For more than a month, over 24,000 military troops from 26 NATO countries and its partners demonstrated their power in many countries at the same time, through strategic scenarios and the implementation of operational tasks on land, air and sea.