Speaking in television, Vengu said that thanks to this agreement, 302 million USD go for a safer Albania.

According to Vengu, “The national security is above politics and therefore there is always a consensus”.

Vengu added that this is a program that was initiated several years ago and Albania becomes a beneficiary for the first time as a good part of the allied countries on the eastern front.

“I am not authorized to make public the systems and equipment, but I can say that the terms that the US Congress has put to Albania are very preferential, even compared to other allies”, he added.

Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Petrit Malaj also said during a briefing for the media that, at the request of the American side, the terms of the agreement will remain confidential.

“We have been asked by the United States to maintain the confidentiality of the terms of the agreement. However, I can say that the financial terms offered are very competitive for a loan of this nature,” said the minister of finance.

He emphasized that the agreement is an important instrument for financing investments in the defense sector, further strengthening the strategic partnership between Albania and the United States. /p.s./

Through a post on social networks, Vengu praised the figure and role of Ahmeti in Albanian politics in North Macedonia, while emphasizing the importance of the Albanian factor as a force of stability and European orientation.

“During a conversation with him, I felt how important it is that the Albanian factor in North Macedonia continues to be a force of stability, state-forming dignity and European development orientation. There are people who make history and there are others who keep it alive every day. Ali Ahmeti belongs to both categories. Thank you for the hospitality Commander and for inspiring a policy that you pursue,” Vengu wrote in his reaction.

Meanwhile, Ahmeti also shared a reaction after the meeting, describing Vengu as a personality dedicated to the state and national interest. He wrote that during the meeting, they talked on the challenges of Albanians, developments in the region and the importance of nationwide cooperation. /m.q/j.p/p.s./

Attending the event was US Charge d’Affaires in Tirana Nancy VanHorn.

In his speech, Vengu appreciated the moment as significant, emphasizing that the delivery of the Javelin system marks the fulfillment of a long-standing procurement order. It is done in the framework of close cooperation with the United States of America.

“Today, the Land Force receives full Javelin system via U.S. partnership,” said Vengu.

“Beyond representing strength, this system embodies strategic focus and direction,” said the minister.

Vengu said that, “Lessons of the past show that investment in preparation is minor compared to the devastation of unpreparedness. Hesitant nations often find themselves forced into rushed, emergency defense spending, whereas prepared nations invest proactively.”

The minister emphasized that Albania has chosen, with the guidance and support of the US, to invest in peacetime, with planning and budgetary discipline, considering defense as a strategic investment for the future.

“We arm to protect, not to provoke, fulfilling our role in collective alliance security”, he emphasized.

In conclusion, Vengu stated that defense is not a luxury, but a pillar of the state and a fundamental condition for a serious state, which aims to be a strong link in the integration processes, especially on the path to membership in the European Union. /a.f/p.s./

Speaking at a press conference, Vengu said planning for the summit has already begun and that a permanent task force composed of civilian and military representatives has been established, led by a national coordinator.

According to him, national coordinators have been appointed for each segment of the preparations, including infrastructure, logistics, military cooperation, security-related defence assets and the political agenda.

“Progress has been very good in terms of interaction with the armed forces of allied countries, such as the Dutch forces that organised last year’s summit and the Turkish forces that are hosting it this year,” Vengu said.

He added that the goal is to complete the entire preliminary planning phase by May, enabling all institutions involved – including the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Defence Ministry, the Republican Guard, infrastructure institutions and intelligence agencies – to have clearly defined responsibilities for this year and next to ensure the smooth organisation of the summit.

Work is also under way on shaping the political agenda of the summit in coordination with allies, Vengu said, highlighting close civil-military cooperation in the preparations.

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The deployment would be carried out under the mandate of the Board of Peace, an international body established on Feb. 19 with the stated mission of promoting stability, restoring lawful governance and ensuring sustainable peace in conflict-affected territories, in accordance with international law.

Speaking at a news conference, Vengu said media reports circulating maps related to the operation were not official documents and did not reflect formal decision-making.

“Various maps have circulated in the media, but they do not constitute official documents. We are currently awaiting the designation of the allied countries that will assume the so-called umbrella role, under which we will participate in this operation. Discussions at the staff level will determine these elements,” he said.

Chief of the General Staff of the Albanian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Arben Kingji, said Albania has agreed in principle to participate in a stabilization force for the Gaza Strip, initially through the contribution of officers to a command structure to be established for the mission.

He said no specific troop numbers had yet been determined and no final decision had been taken, as consultations with allies were ongoing.

According to Albanian authorities, the Board of Peace serves as the operational framework for such deployments, coordinating member states’ contributions in line with international law.

Member states include the United States, Albania, Kosovo, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Paraguay and Morocco, among others from Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. Albania holds founding member status.

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Answering to Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) during a press conference earlier today, Vengu confirmed that Albania is open to trilateral or similar cooperative formats with other countries. He cited a recent ministerial-level agreement on allied airspace validity and human resource components that ensure flight safety across member states.

“That was a format involving 10 countries, including Albania,” he said, underlining that NATO frequently uses such arrangements to achieve specific objectives.

“These mechanisms can cover joint procurement of military capacities such as air defense systems, radars, ammunition or other components. They can involve joint training or coordinated political positions,” Vengu said.

He added that Albania has actively participated in these formats in the past and intends to continue doing so.

“Trilateral cooperation remains a highly useful mechanism for regional stability and security, and within this framework we will also have the opportunity to include other allies,” he said.

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During a press conference, Vengu said that, “The National Civil Protection Agency has supported the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and municipalities to deal with the damages, especially in livestock and agriculture. We are now ready to prepare a compensation package with the Ministry of Finance for the damages, especially in agriculture and livestock”.

Minister Vengu also spoke about the rainy weather and the measures taken.

“The heavy rain in November last year and in January and February created problems in most river basins and in some of the watershed areas as a whole. Under the coordination of the Civil Protection Agency, the Armed Forces and especially the Civil Emergency Support Command and the engineering units have been engaged on the ground even at these moments”, Vengu emphasized.

Vengu stated that, “There have also been carried out search and rescue operations in Klos together with the Kosovo Forces while a mission is still ongoing in the Osumi basin and we have a maximum commitment here”.

Also, he added, the engineering units have been engaged throughout the territory to open the roads blocked by landslides from time to time in rural areas and to rehabilitate critical infrastructure, bridges or dams.

“In this way, we have reached the local residents of the affected areas in order to provide them with as much safety as possible, despite the high number of landslides that have occurred throughout the country,” said Vengu. /k.s/a.f/p.s./

Vengu thanked his counterpart and his team for what he described as intensive cooperation in recent years, saying Albania and Hungary had built a strong partnership at all levels of government.

Hungarian investment and leading companies operating in Albania, he added, were increasingly serving as a pillar for expanded cooperation, including military cooperation.

Defense Minister also praised Hungary’s support for Albania’s bid to join the European Union, noting that the country has opened all negotiating clusters and is advancing reforms and interim benchmarks.

“We need the support of all member states for this process – not only technical, but also political – to move forward without delay,” Vengu said.

Defence cooperation and the military industry featured prominently in the talks. Vengu highlighted the development of Hungary’s defence industry and underlined Albania’s aim to integrate military supply chains, giving preference to allied countries.

In that context, the two sides signed two agreements: one to intensify civil-level defence cooperation and another between their respective defence innovation institutions, aimed at securing greater funding from European programmes.

Vengu stressed the strategic importance of Southeast Europe to the continent’s security, saying “Albania is not Europe’s periphery, but part of its nerve centre.”

He also recalled the two countries’ joint engagement in the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) mission in Kosovo and the European Union’s military mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

For his part, Szalay-Bobrovniczky welcomed the bilateral meeting in Budapest, describing Albania as both a NATO ally and a European partner. He said the Western Balkans plays a key historical, economic and social role, and praised Albania’s contribution to regional stability.

Hungary’s defense chief voiced strong support for Albania’s long-standing path towards EU membership, stressing that Budapest fully backs its accession based on reforms and standards met, rather than political or ideological considerations. He noted that this position differs from Hungary’s stance in other cases, including Ukraine, whose membership Budapest does not support.

Szalay-Bobrovniczky also commended the Albanian Defence Ministry’s modernisation efforts, saying “a colossal amount of work” had been carried out in line with NATO standards. Meeting NATO capability targets and sharing experience were essential for both sides, he added.

He concluded by assuring that Albania can always count on Hungary and its Defence Ministry for support.

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Speaking on television, Vengu stated that Albania’s participation in the Peace Board was not a surprise.

Vengu emphasized that today’s meeting of the Peace Board is the culmination of months-long effort by the US, which has legitimized this process.

“This is a truly welcomed invitation. Albania, beyond modesty, always manages to play at a higher benchmark than it belongs,” Vengu added.

Vengu also commented on Prime Minister Edi Rama’s statement at the Peace Board meeting, which brought to attention the process taking place in The Hague against four former KLA leaders.

“It served to put on the Peace Board’s table the issue of The Hague trial. It’s a shame. The Peace Board is not the Gaza Board. It started with Gaza, but the goal is to restore peace in other countries as well,” said Vengu. /j.p/p.s./

The Munich Security Conference remains one of the most important international forums, bringing together political leaders, security experts and representatives of global organisations to discuss current challenges and the future of the Euro-Atlantic order.

During his meetings on sidelines of the Conference, Vengu emphasised the importance of unity and coordination in collective defence and reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to actively contributing to joint missions and security initiatives.

He also participated in roundtable discussions with leaders of international defence and innovation companies to explore concrete cooperation opportunities and further development of Albania’s defence industry.

Vengu’s participation was described as an important platform to advance national interests and strengthen Albania’s role as a reliable partner in European peace and security architecture.

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