NATO member Albania, which has no fighter jets of its own, yesterday opened a converted Soviet-era airbase that will serve NATO aircraft amid an escalated threat from Russia, the Prime Minister of the country, Edi Rama, said.

NATO has spent over 50 million euros on the Koutsova Air Base in order to strengthen its presence in the region.

Two fighters from the NATO Air Base in AvianoItaly landed in Koutsova marking the reopening of the airport.

The air base is located in the small town of Kutsova, once known as “Stalin’s Town” when Soviet and Chinese-made MIGs were on standby for take-off orders in the event of war with the West.

Possible targets at the time were Austria, Germany, Italy and Denmark, Rama said.

Albania, which joined NATO in 2009, is also in talks with NATO to build a naval base in Porto Romano on the Adriatic coast.

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