Albania–NATO relations
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The accession of Albania to NATO took place in 2009.
Albania was among the first Eastern European countries to join the Partnership for Peace programme. Albanian politicians considered admission to NATO a top priority. Since 1992 Albania has been extensively engaged with NATO and has maintained its position as a stability factor and a strong ally of United States and EU in the troubled and divided region of the Balkans. In addition to the political will, according to Sali Berisha, the overwhelming majority of 95% of the Albanian population supported NATO membership.[4]
Negotiation progress
Event | Date | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Partnership for Peace | 1994-02-23 | ||||||
Membership Action Plan
|
1999-04-12 | ||||||
Invitation to join | 2008-04-03 | ||||||
Accession protocol | 2008-07-09 | ||||||
Ratification by: | |||||||
Belgium | 2009-01-29 | ||||||
Bulgaria | 2008-10-23 | ||||||
Canada | 2009-01-14 | ||||||
Czech Republic | 2008-12-22 | ||||||
Denmark | 2008-12-09 | ||||||
Estonia | 2008-12-19 | ||||||
France | 2009-02-04 | ||||||
Germany | 2008-12-19 | ||||||
Greece | 2009-02-17 | ||||||
Hungary | 2008-09-15 | ||||||
Iceland | 2009-02-12 | ||||||
Italy | 2008-12-23 | ||||||
Latvia | 2008-09-18 | ||||||
Lithuania | 2008-10-06 | ||||||
Luxembourg | 2009-02-12 | ||||||
Netherlands | 2009-02-17 | ||||||
Norway | 2008-11-24 | ||||||
Poland | 2008-10-21 | ||||||
Portugal | 2009-02-13 | ||||||
Romania | 2008-10-21 | ||||||
Slovakia | 2008-10-24 | ||||||
Slovenia | 2009-02-09 | ||||||
Spain | 2008-12-18 | ||||||
Turkey | 2008-11-26 | ||||||
United Kingdom | 2008-12-19 | ||||||
United States | 2008-09-26 | ||||||
Member of NATO | 2009-04-01 |
North Atlantic Cooperation Council
After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, NATO created the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) to strengthen institutional cooperation on the political and security issues between NATO members and former Warsaw Pact countries. Albania joined in 1992.[1]
Partnership for Peace
Partnership for Peace (PfP) is a NATO program aimed at creating trust between NATO and other states in Europe and the former Soviet Union.[5] Albania signed the Partnership for Peace agreement 23 February 1994.[2]
It was on this same day, 23 February, that Albania first officially applied to join NATO.[1]
Membership Action Plan
NATO Membership Action Plans (MAP) are designed to assist aspiring partner countries meet NATO standards and prepare for possible future membership. Aspiring nations must first participate in MAP before they join the alliance. The Membership Action Plan (MAP) will remain the vehicle to keep aspirants' progress under review.[6]
Albania received a MAP in 1999.[3]
Bucharest summit accession protocols
At the 2008 NATO Bucharest summit,
Kuçovë Air Base
In August 2018, Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama announced that NATO plans to build its first air base in the Western Balkans near the municipality of Kuçovë in south-central Albania. Also, officials are discussing with the US and the alliance on "modernizing Albanian air capacities". The first phase of the project, which was expected to have commenced by the end of 2018 will have an estimated cost of 50 million euros.[8]
On 26 May 2022, Prime Minister Rama publicly offered NATO a naval base as an "added value" to the alliance "in these dangerous times", referring to the ongoing
Representatives
No. | Name | Term served | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Artur Kuko | 2009 | 5 December 2013 |
2 | Leonard Demi | 5 December 2013 | 5 December 2017 |
3 | Visho Ajazi | 5 December 2017 | Incumbent |
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Albania's Relations with NATO". Albanian government. Archived from the original on 7 March 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
- ^ a b North Atlantic Treaty Organization (2006-10-05). "Signatures of Partnership for Peace Framework Document". Archived from the original on 29 November 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-30.
- ^ Radio Liberty. Archivedfrom the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
- ^ "Free Services for PR :: News :: Press Releases". Archived from the original on 2008-04-09. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
- ^ North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (2006-12-14). "Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia join NATO Partnership for Peace". Archived from the original on 17 December 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-17.
- ^ "NATO Handbook: The Membership Action Plan". 8 October 2002. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
- Xinhua. Archived from the originalon January 11, 2009.
- ^ Drake, Matt (7 August 2018). "NATO to INCREASE membership and modernise AIR BASE in Balkans in expansion of power". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
- ^ a b c Semini, Llazar (2022-05-26). "Albania offers ex-Soviet built naval base to NATO". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2022-05-26.