The governments of Albania, Kosovo, and Croatia are preparing a joint purchase of American weapons. This plan is part of the defense cooperation agreement signed in March this year, BGNES reported.

The three countries are working on an expert plan for joint procurement, military exercises, intelligence sharing, and actions against hybrid threats. The plan is expected to be submitted for approval next September. Kosovo, Albania, and Croatia are working on the practical implementation of defense cooperation, which was agreed in writing about five months ago when the defense ministers signed a joint declaration on March 18 in Tirana. The defense ministries of Kosovo and Albania confirmed to Radio Free Europe that expert groups are working on a plan to implement the declaration. Kosovo's acting defense minister, Ejup Makedonci, said that a meeting of the implementation group was held on July 18 in the Albanian capital Tirana "to break down the plan at the operational level."

The Albanian Ministry of Defense, which hosted the signing ceremony, specified that in September this year, the guidelines, which are nearing completion, will be presented to the ministries of Albania, Kosovo, and Croatia for approval. The declaration, signed by Kosovo's acting Minister of Defense, Eup Makedonci, Albania's Minister of Defense, Piro Vengu, and Croatia's Minister of Defense, Ivan Anusic, establishes four points of cooperation: Promoting defense capabilities and cooperation for the relevant industry, enhancing interoperability through education, training, and exercises, countering hybrid threats and enhancing resilience, and providing full support for Euro-Atlantic integration.

The declaration states that this cooperation is to ensure good positioning to counter threats and achieve defense and security goals. "For example, weapons that all three countries are interested in purchasing from the United States must be ordered as a single purchase using each country's legislation, but the quantity and delivery time must be determined jointly because when you buy more from the US, they cost less and arrive faster," Makedonchi told RSEv.

A few months ago, the Croatian government specified that all countries that also want to offer support to Kosovo and Albania on their European and Euro-Atlantic path can join this initiative. So far, no other country has officially announced that it will join this cooperation. Makedonchi says they will use the next meeting of the American-Adriatic Charter, which is expected to take place in October this year, to invite regional partners to join. In addition to cooperation in the arms industry, the countries are expected to conduct bilateral and trilateral military exercises and cooperate in recruiting personnel by increasing educational opportunities through military academies and colleges.

It has recently been announced that the Military Academy of the Armed Forces of Albania will receive a new campus built to NATO standards, designed by Bofill Taller de Arquitectura. The complex will include academic, training, sports, logistics, and command areas. According to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, "the project is part of the modernization of military infrastructure and responds to the increased interest of young people in military specialties."

Albanian President Bayram Begaj issued a decree appointing Lieutenant General Arben Kindji for a second term as Chief of the General Staff of the country's Armed Forces. "We will continue the transformation of the army and enhanced cooperation with NATO and international partners," Kindji said upon receiving his second term. I BGNES