Clear message to stay ankara is sending troops to the Pasalimani naval base in Albania, categorically denying scenarios that want its military presence to be called into question due to the growing Italian involvement in the region.
The turkish government clarifies that there has never been any question of leaving. nor has a relevant request been submitted By tirana, despite recent albania and Italy sign cooperation agreements for port upgrading.
In an official letter to the Turkish parliament, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler dismissed the rumors as baseless, stressing that the Turkish military mission in Pasalimani continues as normal. and without any change in its design.
Pasalimani is a facility with particular geostrategic importance. From the Cold War era until today, it has evolved into a key point of naval presence in the Ionian and Adriatic Seas, with Turkey having taken a leading role in its reconstruction and operational upgrade.
The Turkish side points out that modernization programs have been underway since 1998, while Turkish Navy officials provide training and consulting support to the Albanian armed forces, within the framework of NATO cooperation.
At the same time, Ankara is attempting to downplay the importance of the recent Albanian-Italian defense partnership, emphasizing that it is a bilateral initiatives that do not affect third parties and stem from geographical proximity and common obligations in NATO.
At the heart of the Italian presence is the agreement with Fincantieri for the transformation of the Pasalimani shipyard into a modern center for the construction and maintenance of warships, with strong economic and industrial footprint for Albania.
However, the investment is also accompanied by reactions, as it includes tourism development plans in areas that overlap with active military installations and protected zones, causing internal political tensions.
Under existing agreements, the Turkish Navy retains the right to use the base for operations in the Ionian and Adriatic Seas, while Ankara continues to provide financial and logistical support in the restructuring of the Albanian armed forces according to NATO standards.
The deepening of turkey-Albania Relations after tirana's accession to NATO in 2009 is Considered by ankara to Be of strategic importance, culminating in Military Framework Agreement which was signed in 2024.
Of particular interest to Greece is the fact that Turkey treats Pasalimani as lever to strengthen its influence at the western edge of the Balkans and as counterbalance to the Greek presence in the Ionian Sea.
Turkish officials do not hide that the operation of the base within the NATO framework offers Ankara bargaining advantage in a region where Greek-Turkish issues remain open.
In the same context, Turkey's recent decision to grant Albania an Airbus A319 government aircraft is also part of the deal, a move that is interpreted as practical strengthening of military cooperation between the two countries.
The donation agreement, signed in the fall of 2025, is presented by Ankara as a continuation of the historical ties of friendship with Tirana, but for the wider region it signals turkey's intention to Maintain an active role in the Western Balkans, despite the growing Italian presence and Greek reservations.
Δηλαδή έχουμε τον Τούρκο σε απόσταση αναπνοής από την Ελλάδα και από τον βορρά και την ίδια στιγμή χαϊδευόμαστε με τους Αλβανούς και θέλουμε να τους βάλουμε στην ΕΕ.
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