US to establish EUCOM Special Operations HQ in Albania to counter China

US European Command (EUCOM) on Friday said that it was establishing a special operation hequarters in Albania as a part of an effort to boost capabilities as a keystone for regional stability. While speaking to Sputnik, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern said that reason behind US military opening a special operations command in Albania is because it is concerned about Tirana's ties with China. 

McGovern stated that US decided to locate a base re “because y (US) just learned that Albania is tightly ally of Chinese Communists.”

Separately, EUCOM has said that US base will offer increased interoperability with US-Albanian allies. It ded that base will also be important access to transportation hubs in Balkans. location greatly reduces travel times and increases flexibility of both special operations and conventional forces in region, reported Sputnik.

" ability to rapidly move and train within Balkans, in close coordination with or allied and partner forces, me Albania best location for this effort," said Major General David H. Tabor, Commander of Special Operations Command Europe.

"Albania remains an important NATO Ally and a valued security partner, both regionally and globally," he ded.

China-Albania relations 

Meanwhile, it is to mention that announcement of establishing a US base in Albania comes after Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in a recent analysis identified around 135 Chinese-linked projects in region worth more than $36 billion. As per report, s of projects range from collaborations with Chinese tech firm Huawei, blacklisted by US as a security threat to metallurgy, mining, energy and transport initiatives. 

Furr, it has also been reported that China has even expanded its influence in region via a number of bilateral security, medical and cultural agreements in dition to vaccine donations. Previously, in a meeting visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Albanian President Ilir Meta h also stated that cooperation between two nations has “great potential”.

Back in October, sides agreed to boost tre while China signalled that it stands rey to work with Albania to forge high-quality Belt and Ro cooperation. 

(Image: AP)