US Army-led NATO military exercises launched in Albania April 29 The newly arrived USNS Bob Hope is seen anchored just off the coast of Durres, Albania, April 26, 2021, where it will participate in the theater opening exercise of DEFENDER-Europe 21, which features Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore operations. (Staff Sgt. Elizabeth O. Bryson/Army) TIRANA, Albania — NATO has launched joint military exercises in Albania with thousands of military forces from the United States and other countries in the first such large-scale drills since World War II in the western Balkans, a U.S. Army official said Thursday. Col. Joseph Scrocca said “a staunch NATO ally since 2009, Albania is a valued security partner — both regionally and globally.”