Albania hosts NATO’s “Defender Europe 25”
Albania has officially launched the multinational military exercise “Defender Europe 25,” with thousands of NATO troops mobilized across the country as of Tuesday morning.
Why is this important: The drill, led by U.S. European Command and involving 19 allied and partner nations, enhances military readiness and response capacity across Europe, reinforcing Albania’s strategic importance within NATO’s southeastern flank.
Context: “Defender Europe” is one of the largest and most complex military exercises of the decade. Albania has hosted it twice before, but this year marks a milestone: the Albanian Armed Forces will deploy military drones in the exercise for the first time.
Troops from Albania’s Land Force departed from the Zall-Herr garrison early Tuesday, heading toward the main training site in Bizë, where intensive military maneuvers will unfold through June 9.
The exercise involves approximately 4,000 U.S. troops and 8,000 troops from 18 other countries. The drills are designed to strengthen interoperability among allied forces and prepare for rapid collective defense across the Euro-Atlantic space.
What was said: Prime Minister Edi Rama emphasized Albania’s growing contribution to NATO operations. In a social media post, he noted the exercise’s scope and Albania’s role as a principal host, calling the country’s participation “strategically significant.”
With Defender Europe 25, Albania continues to strengthen its defense infrastructure and visibility within the Alliance. The involvement of aerial surveillance via drones adds a new layer to Albania’s evolving military capability.
Albania’s consistent hosting of Defender Europe comes as it strives to become a key operational hub in regional and alliance-wide security planning.
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