FM Hoxha reaffirmed Albania’s unwavering commitment to a more secure, competitive and interconnected Western Balkans.

For the foreign minister, the security of the Western Balkans and the security of Europe are inseparable.

“In an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, the answer to our shared challenges lies in stronger cooperation, greater unity, and a more resilient Europe and better equipped to face challenges. And for us, it has a name: enlargement. Not as a favor or a reward, but as a merit-based process anchored in meaningful and impactful reforms, while also being a strategic investment for Europe’s stability and long-term security competitiveness,” said Hoxha.

The minister noted that one of the most important lessons of the Berlin Process is that European integration begins at home, long before accession. “It is advanced through practical cooperation, mobility and people-to-people contacts, the mutual recognition of diplomas, connectivity, and the Common Regional Market—otherwise, tangible achievements that improve citizens’ lives, deepen regional ties, and bring our societies ever closer to the European Union,” concluded Hoxha.

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The meeting centered on deepening defense cooperation and tackling mutual security challenges.

During the ministerial, Minister Nufi reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to deepening bilateral and multilateral cooperation, pledging to remain an active contributor to regional and international initiatives.

“Albania remains a committed partner in regional and international initiatives. Through efforts like the Balkan Medical Task Force, the nation drives the regional cooperation, interoperability, and capacity building vital to Euro-Atlantic integration,” Nufi stated.

Among other things, he emphasized that: “In a complex security environment, close coordination among allies is vital to strengthen collective defense and ensure peace.” /p.s./

The ministerial brought together high-level representatives from participating countries to discuss enhancing contributions and joint capabilities for regional security, addressing shared challenges and threats and coordinating policies and efforts within the framework of the European Union.

In a social media post, Minister Nufi highlighted our country’s unwavering commitment to regional cooperation in defense and security.

“Albania remains committed to enhancing regional cooperation in the fields of defense and security, contributing to the consolidation of a safer, more stable and more united European space. In close coordination with allies and partners, our country continues to support joint efforts for peace, stability and the European perspective of the Western Balkans,” he stated. /p.s./

The meeting, hosted by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, will take place at the Palace of Brigades and it will open with remarks from Albania’s Foreign Minister Elisa Spiropali.

Italy will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. North Macedonia and Bulgaria will send their foreign ministers, while Romania will be represented by its ambassador in Tirana.

Ministers will discuss ways to speed up Corridor VIII project as a strategic link between the Adriatic and Black seas, aimed at boosting trade, mobility and economic growth across Southeast Europe.

The Corridor is also seen as enhancing military mobility and interoperability between the European Union and NATO amid heightened geopolitical tensions.

The ministerial is structured around four panels covering the political vision for economic development, the Corridor’s role in sustainable connectivity and green growth, its geopolitical dimension, and funding options for its completion.

Corridor VIII connects Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria and is seen as a key east-west route in the Western Balkans.

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In a statement on social media, Defense Minister Pirro Vengu announced that “at the Defense Ministerial, Corridor 8 – running from the Durrës-Porto Romano port complex to the Black Sea – was officially included in NATO’s plans and critical infrastructure.”

“This is a concrete achievement positioning Albania at the center of all regional plans within the infrastructure where the Alliance will focus in the coming years,” Vengu said.

Prime Minister Edi Rama also reacted to the announcement, highlighting that “Corridor 8, from the Durrës-Porto Romano port complex to the Black Sea, has been officially recognized as a security corridor for collective defense,” adding that it “significantly strengthens regional security.”

Vengu further noted that the Defense Ministerial provided an opportunity to discuss with allies the future of NATO operations involving Albania, particularly the KFOR mission in Kosovo, where capacity enhancements are being assessed. Albania will expand its participation in the mission, including deploying its air force for the first time.

“In close partnership with the United States and the U.S. European command, all necessary reviews for the future of this mission are being carried out, offering a strong opportunity for Kosovo’s newly elected government to deepen cooperation with the Alliance,” Vengu said.

He also highlighted that NATO allies are not only increasing defense investments but restructuring how the defense industry generates additional capacity.

“Albania has embarked on this path decisively, creating new capacities daily, with several contracts concluded and others being negotiated,” he added.

Vengu said these initiatives were welcomed by all NATO allies. He also noted that, together with Turkish colleagues and the NATO Secretariat in Brussels, Albania has begun preparations for the 2027 Tirana Summit.

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“From Belfast, a city that turned division into dialogue, we bring the same spirit to the Western Balkans,” Spiropali said, emphasizing that “peace is not inherited easily but built day by day through cooperation, development, and integration.”

She added that Albania’s leadership role in the process “has been earned through reforms, action, and trust.”

During the ministerial, Spiropali will hold several bilateral meetings and take part as a keynote speaker in plenary sessions on European security and migration, reconciliation in the Western Balkans, and the region’s EU integration path.

The meeting, hosted by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, is part of a series of ministerial-level events under the UK’s 2025 chairmanship of the Berlin Process, covering foreign, internal, and economic policy.

The talks will culminate in the Leaders’ Summit convened by the British Prime Minister in London on October 22.

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Speaking about this meeting, Vengu emphasized that under the new US impulse, there are high expectations for a greater effort by European countries in strengthening combat capacities and taking on new responsibilities for the defense of the continent.

During the ministerial, Vengu expressed Albania’s readiness to render the increase in financial resources for defense into more operational capacities, revival of the military industry, infrastructure in support of the upgrade of our forces and in function of the Alliance.

In this context, Vengu appreciated that a responsive military industry is key to producing the necessary armaments, ammunition and equipment.

The minister also emphasized the need for increased Alliance vigilance in Southeast Europe, especially in relation to Kosovo, as well as in the Adriatic-Ionian area, where the Allied plans deserve to be updated with new strategic actions in face of the numerous hybrid challenges we are facing. /m.m/a.f/r.e/p.s./

Minister Hasani reiterated during the meeting Albania’s unwavering commitment to the Transatlantic Alliance, as the “cornerstone” of the NATO.

The minister said that Albania is currently investing 2.03% of its Gross Domestic Product in defense, with a focus on the upgrade of the Armed Forces, while efforts are being made to achieve 3% of GDP by 2030.

In the framework of the adoption of NATO’s report on the Western Balkans, Minister Hasani emphasized the critical need to strengthen NATO cohesion, especially in maintaining the security and stability of the Western Balkans, to effectively counter cross-border threats and to strengthen preventive and defensive capabilities.

The foreign ministers adopted a number of documents on various Alliance issues, in particular regarding the progress of implementing the important decisions agreed by the Heads of State and Government at the Washington Summit (9-11 July 2024), as well as the launch of preparations for the NATO Summit in The Hague, on 24-25 June 2025.

The focus of the meetings, which were also attended by the new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, was the continued support of the Allied countries for Ukraine.

The Allied Foreign Ministers, during their meeting with their Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybikha, in the format of the NATO-Ukraine Council (NUC), expressed, among other things, the full support for Ukraine, for as long as necessary, in its efforts to resist Russian aggression.

Another session was dedicated to the situation in the southern flank of the Alliance, where the King of Jordan, His Majesty Abdullah II, was also invited.

The Allies emphasized the strengthening of NATO’s existing partnerships with countries on its southern flank, most recently affected by the conflict in Gaza, as well as in light of the decisions taken by Leaders at the Washington Summit, where NATO appointed a Special Representative for the South.

The Allies also discussed the Alliance’s strategic approach towards Russia, the necessary measures to be taken to address comprehensive security threats, including hybrid threats. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

This ministerial was co-chaired by Minister of Defense of Albania Pirro Vengu, with the special participation of the US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander.

In a joint statement with Wallander, at the end of the US-Adriatic Charter ministerial held in Tirana, Vengu expressed to Assistant Secretary of Defense Wallander the gratitude of the Albanian government for the invaluable commitment of the US to political, security and defense developments in our country, but also in the entire Western Balkans region.

Minister Vengu shared at the end of this ministerial the main topics of discussions between senior representatives of the US-Adriatic Charter Initiative.

Vengu emphasized that this year’s ministerial turned into a pole of regional cooperation in the field of security and defense.

Part of the A-5 ministerial discussions was also the recent attack in northern Kosovo.

“We paid attention to the criminal attack a few days ago in Zubin Potok against the critical infrastructure of the Republic of Kosovo. While I take the opportunity to reiterate our solidarity with the state of Kosovo, all countries condemned this dangerous attack for regional security and stability and demanded that those responsible be brought to justice”, emphasized Minister Vengu.

Among other things, in these discussions, according to the Minister of Defense, there was also talk of re-energizing the Adriatic Charter, given the geopolitical dynamics and the continuous change in the strategic security environment.

Meanwhile, US Assistant Secretary of Defense Wallander said that,

“The US vision is certainly for peace and stability. Today’s discussion went to the heart of these ideas and to Russia’s harsh intervention in Ukraine. We have laid a good foundation for what we will do in 2025. Everything counts from actions, not from the words we say,” she emphasized.

Wallander highlighted cooperation between the states that are part of the Adriatic Charter.

During 2024, Albania welcomed a series of high-level political-military events and specifically the US-A5, becoming a hub for regional cooperation in the field of Security and Defense. /j.p/p.s./

In the opening speech of the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Central European Initiative (CEI), which is being held in Tirana, within the framework of the Albanian presidency of this initiative, Hasani highlighted the cooperation that has been offered to Albania by all the member states to fulfill obligations during this important mandate.

He emphasized that Albania’s objectives are aligned with the essential mandate of this initiative.

“At the core of our approach is the commitment to promote good neighborly relations, regional cooperation and finally to advance a vision of a peaceful, strong and stable Europe. Here, Albania actually remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine, especially in light of the ongoing Russian aggression, and we will continue to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its European aspirations,” Hasani said.

The chief diplomat added that the initiative brings together EU member states, but also EU candidate states, offering a unique space for dialogue, for exchanges of the best and mutual practices.

“One of Albania’s priorities at the chair of the CEI, said Hasani, has been to advance the European integration of the Western Balkans.

“We warmly welcome the European Council’s decision to open membership talks even for Ukraine, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Moldova. We firmly believe that these decisions send a strong signal for Europe’s commitment to its neighbors”, said Hasani.

The minister emphasized that we must work together to prevent enlargement fatigue and ensure that the enlargement process remains in the right and comprehensive direction for all candidate countries.

Hasani also emphasized that, in the face of geopolitical challenges, Albania has been a strong advocate for peace and stability.

“We strongly condemned Russia’s unprovoked and illegal war against Ukraine. Ukraine is an important member of the CEI and we have been working alongside our partners to support Ukraine’s efforts to overcome the devastating consequences of this war,” he said.

He stated that beyond the geopolitical landscape, the Albanian Presidency has focused on practical measures to strengthen regional cooperation.

“We have put special emphasis on increasing people-to-people contacts, promoting academic and professional exchanges and promoting cooperation in sectors such as culture, transport, tourism and of course the economy,” Hasani said.

He brought the example of the activity in Vlora that brought together experts and civil servants from CEI and members of the South East European cooperation program to discuss sustainable cross-border connectivity, as well as efficient logistics in the region.

Hasani emphasized that, “The Albanian Presidency of the CEI has successfully completed all its obligations and I am proud of the significant achievements we have reached”.

This success has been the result of the collective effort of all of us, Hasani said, as he conveyed his best wishes to Serbia as it prepares to take over the next CEI Presidency./p.s./