In the Balkans begins the largest military training led by the US

About 12,000 military troops from the United States and its allied countries, including Kosovo, have gathered in the Balkans, in the second phase of the « Defender 25 » training, led by the US military.

The exercise, called « Immediatte Response 25 », which takes place from May 26 to June 9, aims to test how « quickly and effectively » American troops can be deployed in Europe to protect the eastern wing of the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO) with allies and partners.

Kosovo is one of the eight countries where the training will take place that, according to the European Command of the United States, aims to strengthen cyber protection and demonstrate US and allies’ security capacities.

Part of the exercise will also be held in Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia and Slovakia.

The Ministry of Defense of Kosovo has said that, during the period that military training will last, in Kosovo « there will be the movement of convoys from the Kosovo Security Force’s settlements towards the Gjakova region, exactly the Gjakova Airport and Military Polygon in Babaj, Boka ».

The KSF, according to the Minister of Defense, Ejup Macedonia, « will show the operational readiness and the degree of combat interaction with the partner countries and the region ».

Meanwhile, the Albanian Ministry of Defense has said that « NATO and partner forces will be trained in Albania and Kosovo for the protection of critical facilities, offensive and defensive operations, as well as for security points of dislocation ».

Albanian Defense Minister Pirro Vengu has claimed that this is « a test of interaction and a clear message: NATO is united ».

« Defender 25 » is the largest US military training in Europe, with the involvement of more than 25,000 troops from the US and 25 allied and partner countries/ re/