IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Operations
Release No: NR-117-18
April 17, 2018
Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Dana W. White provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis welcomed Albanian Minister of Defense Olta Xhacka to the Pentagon to reaffirm the strong defense relationship between the United States and Albania.
Secretary Mattis praised the significant contributions Albania has made to global and coalition operations, including nearly 300 personnel serving in four major NATO operations. He thanked Minister Xhacka for Albania’s strong leadership in the Western Balkans, and for its efforts to counter Russian malign influence in the region. He.
Secretary Mattis praised Albania’s recent increase in defense spending and plan to meet the NATO Wales Summit Defense Spending Pledge by 2024.