In addition to the walled-off Croatian tourist resort of Dubrovnik, the aircraft flew over government headquarters in Skopje, North Macedonia, Skanderbeg Square in the center of the Albanian capital, Tirana, and over Montenegro’s Adriatic coast. The Balkans and the Adriatic Sea have recently seen increased military, covert and propaganda activity from Moscow, which considers the region of strategic interest due to its access to the Mediterranean. “The purpose of each flight is to demonstrate US commitment and reassurance to NATO allies and partners located in Southeast Europe,” the US Air Force said in a statement. “Furthermore, this will give citizens the opportunity to take photos, videos and enjoy the aircraft flying overhead.” Crowds gathered in squares in Skopje and Tirana and tourists watched in Dubrovnik and Montenegro as the giant bombers roared overhead. Some spectators waved American flags. North Macedonia was the last nation to join NATO in 2020, and Montenegro did so in 2017, despite strong opposition from Russia. North Macedonia’s army chief, Lt. Col. Jovan Azmanovski, told Kanal 5 television that the bomber flights were symbolic proof that “our skies are safe.” “People in North Macedonia were able to see USAF B52 flights of two strategic bombers over Skopje, proving our membership in NATO and the security of our skies and the skies of the entire alliance. Our skies are safe and our NATO membership is more than visible,” Azmanovsky said. In Tirana, the Chief of Staff of the Albanian Army, Arben Kinci, said that “we are witnessing a strategic military display”. “Our strategic partners are hand in hand with us, it’s a message of unity,” he said in the square where people gathered. The story continues The two B-52 Stratofortress aircraft are assigned to the 23rd Bomb Squadron currently operating from RAF Fairford, United Kingdom. Since 2018, the US has conducted more than 200 Bomber Task Force sorties with allies and partners. Most recently, this involved B-1B Lancer flights over the Scandinavian, Baltic and Black Sea regions in May, as well as an aerial policing over North Macedonia in June. In June, the Stratofortresses flew over the Arctic Ocean and later participated in BALTOPS, the largest annual exercise in the Baltic Sea. In the Baltic Sea, the amphibious warship USS Kearsarge — the largest warship ever to visit Lithuania — was officially welcomed on Monday. The country shares borders with NATO member Poland and Belarus, an ally of Moscow. On Monday, NATO’s air police mission in Lithuania said aircraft had scrambled four times in the past week to identify and escort Russian warplanes that were violating international airspace rules.
