'Joint Effort 2024' exercise ends in Bizë, Defence Minister Niko Peleshi: A real test of national plans in support of NATO

"Joint Effort 2024" exercise ends in Bizë, Defence Minister Niko Peleshi: A real test of national plans in support of NATO

Published: Friday, 28 June 2024 13:59

Defence Minister Niko Peleshi and Chief of Defence Major General Arben Kingji expressed satisfaction over the successful completion of the largest national exercise in the history of the Albanian Armed Forces "Joint Effort 2024."
Speaking to an assembly of generals, commanders, officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers, Minister Peleshi underscored the profound importance of Joint Effort 2024 exercise. He emphasized its role as a rigorous evaluation of national strategies in line with NATO's regional plans.
"This exercise rigorously tested our response capabilities in the event of NATO's Article 5 activation, focusing on collective defense, force readiness, deployment capabilities, command and control, securing sea and air landing zones, safeguarding critical infrastructure, and enhancing troop protection and operational preparedness for overseas deployment." - he stated.

Addressing the current security environment, Minister Peleshi highlighted the significant measures undertaken to enhance the development of the Armed Forces. These efforts aim to ensure that the Armed Forces are modern, professional, and fully capable of fulfilling their constitutional mission while maintaining full interoperability with other NATO member countries.

"We are committed to strengthening the operational and tactical dimensions of our military forces and capabilities. This ongoing transformation includes integrating state-of-the-art equipment, anti-aircraft and anti-tank defense systems, and enhanced surveillance and monitoring capabilities over air and maritime domains. Concurrently, infrastructure enhancement projects bolster our nation's pivotal role within the Alliance, supporting operations in the realms of deterrence and collective defense." - Minister Peleshi emphasized in his speech.

Peleshi also spoke about the government's recent decision to increase salaries for all Armed Forces personnel.

"I take this opportunity to reaffirm the government's support for the Armed Forces through the recently approved salary raises. This increase began in 2022 and currently stands at 40%. It is a promise kept and a commitment from the Prime Minister that salaries in the Armed Forces will continue to rise annually until we reach the average level of NATO countries." - Minister Peleshi said.

The "Joint Effort 2024" exercise, held in Bizë, synchronized interoperability skills at command and operational levels and included the execution of ground combat actions by troops. Approximately 2,000 troops participated, along with hundreds of ground vehicles, naval vessels from the Naval Force, Air Force helicopters, and for the first time, Bayraktar TB2 drones.

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