The Albanian government has offered NATO the use of a naval base, built in the 1950s, which was at one point used by Soviet submarines.

According to the office of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, the purpose of offering NATO the use of the naval base is to boost Albania’s importance as a member of the alliance. Albania joined NATO in 2009. PM Rama announced that the Albanian authorities have already prepared plans to renovate the base.

The base is located in the Bay of Vlorë in the Adriatic Sea and was used by the Soviet Navy up until the Albanian-Soviet split in 1961. It could house 12 submarines and was the only Soviet base in the Mediterranean.