Laci: Albania does not have the economic power to purchase modern military equipment

Albania does not have the economic power to purchase modern military equipment, but it can serve as a location for tactical support to NATO, Dritan Laci, analyst and editor at News 24, told Kosovo Online.

Laci also mentioned drones, as well as the fact that Albania’s airspace is protected by other countries.

“As far as Albania is concerned, it can serve as a place for tactical support, that is, help the Alliance with its own resources, because it does not have the economic power to purchase modern military equipment that is very expensive, as Greece, Turkey or even Croatia can. Albania can serve very well as a tactical element for NATO, such as the air base in Kucova. Our military power at this point is at a minimal level. Take, for example, drone capacities compared to the rest of the Balkans, Greece or Turkey. Of course, in that respect we are in a weaker position. This is also due to several other factors, which are well known. Our airspace is protected by neighboring countries, but there are other reasons for this situation as well. In the meantime, we can make a greater contribution by gradually increasing the budget for the armed forces,” Laci said.

When it comes to the region, Laci notes that some countries are arming themselves in order to protect against Serbia.

“We also have to think about this, that in the future there may be risks in the region. Serbia has its own strategy called the ‘Serbian world’, and we see that there is nationalist rhetoric and attempts at irredentism, which creates problems with neighbors such as Croats or Albanians in Kosovo. This represents a risk, but what makes this risk even greater is Serbia’s connection with Russia and China, which are, within NATO strategy, two rival and threatening countries, especially Russia. From this perspective, even the arming of some countries in the Balkans is seen as a kind of ‘umbrella’ to protect themselves from what is called the Serbian world,” Laci explains.

Regarding NATO’s strategy toward Western Balkan countries, Laci says that a principle similar to the Finnish example will be applied.

“NATO has an interest in these countries being as strong as possible in military terms. Even if they are not very strong in terms of armaments, they are strong in being prepared for any situation. If you think of one of NATO’s strategies, I am talking about the period known as the period of Finlandization. Finland was neutral and its sea was largely under Russian dominance, so NATO built a strategy to block Russia’s path. Undoubtedly, such a strategy is also being applied in the case of Western Balkan countries. NATO is aware of the economic potential of these countries, but it still wants its borders to be protected. Therefore, its borders and strategic interests are a priority, and we as Albania are not excluded from this strategy,” Laci said.

On the global situation and cooperation between the US and NATO, our interlocutor believes that this cooperation will continue.

“I think the US and NATO will continue their cooperation, despite changes in strategy. We are familiar with the latest document from the Oval Office, that is, from US President Trump, which brought a change in approach, emphasizing that China is the main and dominant rival in East Asia, while the US is dominant in the western part of the world. I still believe more in what could be called a genetic or cultural connection, because America is genetically connected to Europe. And even though they may differ in their ideas, I think cooperation will be continuous,” Laci concluded.