Albania receives naval ships from Italy to promote military and NATO missions
Albania Tilana (AP) – Italy donated a military ship to Albania on Tuesday to help the country strengthen its military, increase patrols on its coastline and intensify its participation in NATO missions.
Libra 402, a provincial patrol ship of Casiopo built by Italy in the late 1980s, was docked in the western Durres and formally handed over to Albania at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Edi Rama and Minister of Defense. A large Albanian flag was drawn on the side, and its number was changed to page 133.
“In these difficult times, countries should try to work closer together,” Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said of NATO member states.
“This is a concrete proof of the friendship between Italy and Albania and our desire to work and cooperate in the military and economic fields.”
Rama described the gift as “very generous and a sign of deep friendship and respect”.
1,500 tons (1,476 tons), a 79.8-meter long (87 yards) long vessel can reach speeds of 20 knots (23 mph) and can reach 3,200 nautical miles (3,682 Statute Miles). Its mission is mainly maritime defense and surveillance, and it has a crew of 60 members, a Helipad and a garage.
The head of Albanian Navy strikes back: “It will not only serve in the security and peace missions in Albanian waters of Adriatic and Ionians (oceans), but will also carry out NATO missions on the Mediterranean sea.
Since Albania joined NATO in 2009, Italy has been one of the most important supporters of its ongoing efforts to address the modernization demanded by NATO. Last year, its renovated airport in the central city of Kukov was converted into a NATO technical air force base. This small Western Balkan country has sent many troops to a NATO-led peace mission in Europe and beyond. Albania is now also in full membership negotiations to join the EU.
Albania after World War II was associated with the Soviet Union at the time until 1961, although it officially left the Warsaw Pact in 1968 after the then Czechoslovak invasion. Tirana then approached China until 1978, when it suffered losses from the country’s direct economic aid.
The former Communist regime collapsed after student protests in December 1990. The first multi-election was held in March 1991.
In November 2023, Albania signed a five-year contract with Italy to open two rapid asylum processing centers that could be used by the Italian Coast Guard, which undertakes international waters, to take over up to 3,000 migrants. Last month, the Italian-led government approved a decree that expanded the use of centres, including repatriation centres, in line with recent EU proposals.
Under Italy’s ownership last year, Libra participated in the first two of the three attempts to transfer 73 such immigrants to Albania. Italian magistrates refused to verify their detention in non-EU countries and all were immediately sent back to Italy.
