The US-NATO joint military exercise known as Defender-Europe 21 has concluded after 2 months of operations and the US forces have been redeployed to the US.
According to U.S. Army Europe and Africa, more than 28 thousand forces from 26 nations participated in the exercise and conducted “simultaneous operations across more than 30 training areas” in 12 host countries in the Balkans, including Albania, the Baltics, the Black Sea, and Africa.
Under US leadership, allied forces worked “to build readiness, enhance interoperability, and strengthen relationships”.
Defender-Europe 21 began in Albania, on April 26th, with the disembarkment and unloading operations known as Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore at the Port of Durres. More than one thousand vehicles and other heavy equipment and supplies were offloaded from the USNS Bob Hope into smaller vessels which brought the cargo to shore for land movement.
A number of military operations were conducted by thousand of US and Albanian troops in various locations in Albania during the month of May.
Part of the operation was also Tirana Open Day, a public display of US and NATO capabilities, showcasing equipment and interacting with the public.
