"Albania Transforms Soviet-Era Air Base into NATO Hub"

Albania has reopened a Soviet-era air base in Kucova, now refurbished to host NATO jets, as a response to growing concerns over Russian influence in the Balkans. The €50 million makeover will support NATO logistics missions, air operations, training, and exercises, with the base seen as a strategic investment to strengthen NATO's presence in the region. The move comes amid heightened tensions in the Balkans, with Albania aiming to bolster security and counter anti-Western sentiment, while also signaling its alignment with NATO and the West.