Vigilance can reveal that ships and Royal Marines from the Royal Navy’s Response Force Task Group will as from today conduct the first major exercise between the Royal Navy and Albanian armed forces since Albania joined NATO in 2009.
Vigilance learnt that Exercise Albanian Lion, which takes place between 27 May – 3 Jun 11, is the most significant defence cooperation to date between the two NATO allies.
Involving ships, helicopters and hundreds of Royal Marines, as well as Albanian forces, the Exercise we gathered will focus on amphibious operations.
Colonel Haydn White Royal Marines, Deputy Commander 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines, who will command the Landing Force said: “Albania is a NATO ally with whom the UK enjoys a positive relationship and this exercise is a milestone in the co-operation between our armed forces. We hope it is the first of many. We thank the Albanian people for their support and look forward to working together again in the future”.
While Commodore John Kingwell Royal Navy, Commander UK Task Group, remarks: “The Response Force Task Group is the UK’s maritime quick reaction force. This long planned deployment involves multi-national amphibious exercises with partner nations, such as Albania, which reaffirm the Royal Navy’s ability to respond at short notice to unforeseen world events.”