Albania–NATO relations

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  Albania and Croatia joined NATO in 2009.
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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.

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, 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
Full membership 2009-04-01

North Atlantic Cooperation Council[]

See also: 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[]

See also: 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[]

See also: NATO 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[]

See also: 2008 Bucharest summit

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

Kuçovë Air Base[]

Main article: 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, expected to commence by the end of 2018 will have an estimated cost of 50 million euros.[8]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Albania's Relations with NATO". Albanian government. Archived from the original on 7 March 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b 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. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2009-04-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  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.
  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.
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