TIRANA, April 2 – Albania has marked the fifth anniversary of becoming a member of NATO at two official events, with Albanian leaders saying that becoming part of the world’s largest military and political alliance has made Albania safer and increased its ties with the Euro-Atlantic community.
The government held a short ceremony at the Defense Ministry with the presence of Prime Minister Edi Rama, Defense Minister Mimi Kodheli, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces Major General Jeronim Bazo, generals, directors and other senior military of the Ministry of Defense, of the Staff General and the Armed Forces.
President Bujar Nishani, who is also the commander in chief of the armed forces, held a reception to mark the day at the Brigades Palace.
Albania became a full NATO member in 2009. The small Adriatic country had earlier participated with some military units in international peacekeeping missions. It still has a presence in Afghanistan and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Albania’s prime minister said NATO has played a crucial role in keeping the Balkans stable.
“The gratitude that we express toward this organization is closely related to its essential role in the regional stability,” Prime Minister Rama said, adding that membership with the Euro-Atlantic alliance has given Albania the opportunity to become part of an alliance based on the highest values of democracy, freedom, human rights, rule of law and free market.
“It has also strengthened the importance of the Albania, transforming it into an essential part of international decision-making as a state that contributes to the global security,” Rama said.
The government, in power since mid-September last year, has drafted a new national security strategy in line with NATO requirements for members.
Defense Minister Kodheli said NATO membership for Albania was important because it clearly showed the country’s will to reconnect with the Euro-Atlantic community following decades of brutal communist regime and a difficult transition to democracy.
Albania marks fifth anniversary of joining NATO
Change font size:
Latest from News
Saudi Ambassador Meets Head of Albania–Saudi Parliamentary Friendship Group
Change font size: - + Reset Tirana Times, July 6,2026 – Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Albania, H.E. Turki bin Ibrahim Al-Madi, received Albanian MP Baldi Çomo, Chairman of the Albania–Saudi Arabia Parliamentary Friendship
Anti-Government Protests Escalate in Tirana as Demonstrators Block Parliament
Change font size: - + Reset Tirana Times, July 03, 2026 – Albania’s month-long anti-government protest movement entered a more confrontational phase on Thursday, as demonstrators gathered outside Parliament, blocked access points
Are Europe’s Star Architects Helping Launder Albania’s Criminal Economy?
Change font size: - + Reset The Albanian Files suggests that international architecture may have served not only as design, but as a prestigious façade for opaque money, captured institutions and one-man
Saudi Ambassador Presents Credentials To Albanian President As Ties Gain Momentum
Change font size: - + Reset Tirana Times, June 05, 2026 – Saudi Arabia’s new ambassador to Albania, Turki Ibraheem Almadhi, presented his credentials to President Bajram Begaj, marking the formal start
Germany’s New Enlargement Formula and Albania’s European Illusion
Change font size: - + Reset For Albania, the real issue is not which accession model Europe chooses, but whether democracy, rule of law, and state integrity can still be restored. By