Albania–NATO relations

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Albania–NATO relations
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Albania

The accession of Albania to NATO took place in 2009. Albania's relationship with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) began in 1992 when it joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council. [1] In 1994, it entered NATO's Partnership for Peace, which began Albania's process of accession into the alliance. [2] In 1999, the country received a Membership Action Plan (MAP). [3] The country received an invitation to join at the 2008 Bucharest Summit and became a full member on April 1, 2009.

Contents

Royal Navy with Albanian Naval Forces Patrol Boat during NATO Joint exercises Royal Navy with Albanian Naval Forces Patrol Boat (8211785278).jpg
Royal Navy with Albanian Naval Forces Patrol Boat during NATO Joint exercises

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

EventDate
Partnership for Peace 1994-02-23
Membership Action Plan 1999-04-12
Invitation to join2008-04-03
Accession protocol2008-07-09
Ratification by:
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 2009-01-29
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 2008-10-23
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2009-01-14
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 2008-12-22
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 2008-12-09
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 2008-12-19
Flag of France.svg  France 2009-02-04
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 2008-12-19
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 2009-02-17
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 2008-09-15
Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 2009-02-12
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 2008-12-23
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 2008-09-18
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 2008-10-06
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 2009-02-12
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 2009-02-17
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 2008-11-24
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 2008-10-21
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 2009-02-13
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 2008-10-21
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 2008-10-24
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 2009-02-09
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 2008-12-18
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 2008-11-26
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2008-12-19
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2008-09-26
Member of NATO2009-04-01

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, NATO member states signed accession protocols for Albania and Croatia. A signing ceremony was held, and witnessed by the foreign ministers of the two countries. Individual NATO member states must ratify the protocols according to their national requirements and procedures. NATO hoped to have it completed by the next NATO summit in April 2009. [7]

Secretary Kerry Shakes Hands With Albanian Prime Minister Rama Before Bilateral Meeting at NATO Summit in Wales Secretary Kerry Shakes Hands With Albanian Prime Minister Rama Before Bilateral Meeting at NATO Summit in Wales (14961134157).jpg
Secretary Kerry Shakes Hands With Albanian Prime Minister Rama Before Bilateral Meeting at NATO Summit in Wales

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]

Pashaliman Naval Base

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 Russian invasion of Ukraine, which the Albanian government has formally denounced. [9] The Pashaliman naval base, located in Vlorë Bay 180 kilometers (110 miles) south of the capital Tirana, was built in the 1950s by the Soviet Union and had sheltered up to 12 submarines. In the years following the end of the Cold War, it was neglected and looted before being renovated by Turkey; it is currently used by some military ships patrolling the Adriatic and Ionian seas. [9] Rama announced that a project was already planned to further rehabilitate the base. The Associated Press reported that the offer was also intended to highlight Albania's contributions to NATO despite its small size. [9]

Representatives

No.NameTerm served
1Artur Kuko20095 December 2013
2Leonard Demi5 December 20135 December 2017
3Visho Ajazi5 December 2017Incumbent

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

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  2. 1 2 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.
  3. 1 2 Bigg, Claire (2 April 2008). "NATO: What Is A Membership Action Plan?". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  4. "Free Services for PR :: News :: Press Releases". Archived from the original on 2008-04-09. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
  5. 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.
  6. "NATO Handbook: The Membership Action Plan". 8 October 2002. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  7. Mingxin, Bi (9 July 2008). "NATO members sign accession protocols for Albania, Croatia". Xinhua. Archived from the original on January 11, 2009.
  8. 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.
  9. 1 2 3 Semini, Llazar (2022-05-26). "Albania offers ex-Soviet built naval base to NATO". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2022-05-26.