The Royal Navy’s Littoral Response Group (South) concluded a four-day visit to Albania.
The visit involved extensive training exercises and high-level diplomatic engagements, reinforcing the strategic partnership between the two NATO allies.
Commander Sam Stephens, leading the task force, praised Albania’s role as a key strategic partner. “We are looking to reinvigorate ties after a few years’ hiatus of the regular Albanian Lion exercise,” he stated in the press release. He commended Albania’s “exceptional terrain and areas for training,” acknowledging the mutual benefits derived from the unique training environment it offers.
The press release detailed the activities of the Merlin helicopters from 845 Naval Air Squadron, highlighting their role in conducting training with Albanian forces and reconnaissance flights to scout locations for future joint exercises. This proactive engagement underlines the UK’s commitment to regional security, as Commander Stephens emphasized the broader goal of strengthening security “not only in Albania but worldwide.”
A show of solidarity between the two nations was demonstrated when two Merlins performed a low pass over Tirana’s Skanderbeg Square during a joint press conference.
“Exceptional terrain and areas for training” ok that’s the ground, can’t change that, as for the Albanian forces, mostly wank!
Oh! Stop beating about the bush, say what you really think!😂
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Think where Albania has come from in less than a generation. Unthinkable just 30 years ago!
Agreed on that respect but very much like other countries with ex communist or “mad” leaders, it takes a very long time to get corruption and incompetence out of the system! As it stands the Albanian military is very much like other organisations in the country to include the police, prison service etc it’s all about the back handlers and who you know, not what you can do! Cheers
As you say.. and my father used to say to me back in the early 1970s as I was leaving school… it’s not what you know it’s who you know.. it’s the same the whole world over, as the Rugby song goes!
On what evidence?
I’d hazard an educated guess and say his own considerable experience?
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LRG(S) has been hanging around in the Eastern Med for 3 months now. A decision will surely have to be made soon as to whether it will return to Devonport to rest and reset, or whether it will resume its journey eastward, to be forward based at Duqm in Oman. I suspect that the former is becoming the more likely, if RFA Fort Victoria needs a crew in a hurry then Argus and Lyme Bay may have to be the donors. Robbing “Peter to pay Paul” has become the unofficial motto of the naval service.
It would be nice if we really had a defence force. Both Ukraine and Russia have had 5+ times the number killed as we have in all the British forces put together. Putting the army down to 77,000 is a bloody joke. We have empty ships because we haven’t enough salors to man the up. About time all these thugs who wave knives around were put in uniform. Then we’ll see how brave they are (init). Teach them some respect as well.