Special operations in Europe / General Tabor shows the reasons why the US selected Albania to establish the base

General Tabor showed that after many countries were examined, what was initially noticed was the geographical position that Albania has, this, according to him, reinforced by the excellent partnership that the US has had with the Albanian special operations forces, adding the support of extraordinary of the Albanian government and the Albanian people.

According to him, this will be a relatively small military base, approximately 10 to 15 people, who are expected to be deployed in Albania to help the commitment that the US has not only here, but also in countries such as Kosovo, Bosnia, Serbia , Croatia and throughout the region.

Thimi Samarxhiu: Major General David Tabor, thank you for taking the opportunity and time for this interview to answer the many questions that have been raised since your decision.

Major General David Tabor: Let me tell you, Thimi, that I am very grateful that you are giving me the opportunity to talk to you and communicate to the Albanian people and to everyone what our goals and plans are. Let me start by saying that none of this would have been possible without the extraordinary support of the Albanian government and the Albanian people. We are very grateful for this opportunity that we will have for the coming years. Thank you once again for your time and look forward to your questions. I hope, too, to meet one day, very soon I believe.

Thimi Samarxhiu: And the first question is why the US Special Operations Command for Europe chose Albania to set up a headquarters of the Special Operations Forces base?

General Tabor: Yes. I know this is an important question for anyone. I think it is important to emphasize that this is a regional command that will serve to engage our forces with many allies and partners throughout the region. Honestly, after examining many countries, we noticed the central position that Albania has, reinforced by the excellent partnership we have had with the Albanian special operations forces, adding here the extraordinary support of the Albanian government and the Albanian people to do this. reality.

Thimi Samarxhiu: What will be the role of this unit?

General Tabor: As I mentioned, this will be a command in support of the operation and control of our forces engaged throughout the region. It will be a relatively small base, approximately 10 to 15 people, that will be deployed in Albania on a rotation basis in support of the engagement we have not only in Albania, but also in countries such as Kosovo, Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia and throughout the region. By being more present, we will be able to build a more solid relationship throughout this area.

Thimi Samarxhiu: Is this mission short-term, medium-term or long-term?

General Tabor: Thimi, as far as we are concerned, this is a process that does not have an end date. We think we are starting it as a long-term process and on this basis we will work together with our wonderful allies in Albania. As I pointed out, this has come as a request of the Albanian government. So, as long as Albanians are happy with our presence there, we will be just as happy, of course, to stay.

Thimi Samarxhiu: Was the decision to install an advanced headquarters in Albania in the context of the wider competition of powers in the region? Russia already has an advanced base in southern Serbia for example.

General Tabor: Yes, we know what many countries are doing, but that is not what motivates us. What really motivates us is training together with our allies and partners to build even greater capacity. What other countries do is not that important to us. What interests our allies yes, it matters a lot to us. So we will continue to strengthen these relationships whenever and wherever we can.

Thimi Samarxhiu: What kind of interaction will you have with the Albanian Armed Forces?

General Tabor: I am very enthusiastic about the opportunity we have to further develop the excellent relations we have with the Albanian Armed Forces. As you know, Albania has made an extraordinary contribution to previous engagements, both in Iraq and in Afghanistan. In addition, we had a series of exercises with the Albanian special operations forces. So we look forward to the opportunity to train and learn from each other and to build the necessary capacity for Albania to continue to be a contributor to the stability of the region and even in NATO and beyond.

Thimi Samarxhiu: What are the security implications for both Albania and its territory?

General Tabor: As I said before, Thimi, this is an opportunity to strengthen our relations and I hope that this will increase the sense of security and stability throughout the region, the sense of trust that others have in this region and even in NATO. and beyond. It is very important to understand that each of us is much stronger if we are all together than each one separately.

Thimi Samarxhiu: In the legal framework, what are the legal agreements between the Albanian government and the command of special forces for conducting operations inside and outside the Albanian territory?

General Tabor: Interesting question, Thimi, which has the simple answer. Nothing has changed. We will continue to operate through our presence there under the responsibility of the Albanian government and the Albanian people, working through our Embassy and our Office there for Cooperation in the Field of Defense. So for us it is very simple. We look forward to being there.

Thimi Samarxhiu: Will you help the Albanian Special Forces? For example, in terms of special equipment and any other means that enables them to increase their operational capabilities?

General Tabor: The opportunity already exists and we are ready to use our proximity on this occasion to strengthen contacts with the Albanian special forces. As I said, we will work through the US Embassy, ​​the Office of Defense Cooperation to assess and truly improve capabilities based on the will of the Albanian military in general and special operations forces in particular.

Thimi Samarxhiu: What is your assessment of the capabilities of the Albanian Special Forces?

General Tabor: I would like to return once again to the experience we had with the Albanian special forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and in the training operations recently. I can tell you that we are dealing with a dedicated force and, as we usually say here, in American special operations, what matters most is the people, not the equipment. Where there are capable people, who are mission-focused, committed to security and stability and peace in the region, anything is possible. So, we have a good base with the Albanian special operations forces and we look forward to the opportunity to help them do what they themselves want to do.

Thimi Samarxhiu: Will there be a Headquarters that will be created in Albania by special units from other NATO countries such as Croatia, Hungary, Northern Macedonia, Greece or Montenegro?

General Tabor: We have really good cooperation with other NATO allies and other partner countries throughout the region. This command that we are setting up is a command center for our special operations in Europe and as such we do not plan for any other allied country to be part of it. Of course, in coordination with the Albanian army and government, we will be ready to consider this if there is a mutual interest. I must also say that other NATO allies have relations with Albania and the Albanian army and I believe that in this case we are able to support each other. So if such opportunities arise, we are certainly ready to explore them, but it is not that we are starting with the plan to build a larger central headquarters type for the Allies that goes beyond just a command center of United States for Special Operations.

Thimi Samarxhiu: Are there plans to deploy combat or training forces elsewhere, in the region or beyond?

General Tabor: Of course, there are always opportunities, everywhere. As I said, we have done a lot of training in Albania and Albania has participated in some of our training exercises and I believe that this will be one of the best opportunities that arises with the establishment of this command. There will be more contacts with the Albanian military forces and more their involvement in NATO exercises, whether they are exercises that take place inside Albania or other exercises on the continent, or anywhere in the world, if any. desire. One of our big trainings, where Albania will participate is the annual “Trojan Footprint” training, together with three other countries in Europe. So we look forward to being able to increase existing opportunities, taking advantage of these opportunities to increase capacity, security and stability throughout the region and throughout Europe.

Thimi Samarxhiu: General thank you very much. I wish you good work and we look forward to seeing you in Tirana

General Tabor: Thimi, thank you once again. I really appreciate this opportunity you gave me to talk to you, to talk to the Albanian people and I hope to meet soon for a coffee in Tirana and get to know other wonderful Albanian citizens. Thank you once again and I wish you a beautiful day!

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