Prime Minister Rama held an important meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, in the framework of strengthening cooperation between Albania and the transatlantic alliance. This meeting comes at a crucial moment for regional security and stability, with discussions also focusing on Albania’s role in NATO missions. Both leaders emphasized their shared commitment to enhancing defense capacities and further deepening the ties between Albania and NATO.

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NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte: Good morning. It is a real honor to have my close friend Edi Rama visiting, the Prime Minister of Albania.

Albania is a strong ally. Albania will reach the 2% defense spending this year, which is a great commitment. Albania is developing its defense industrial base, including through its state-owned enterprise, which is important because we need a stronger defense industrial base all over NATO.

You are helping a lot with Ukraine. For example, through our command in Wiesbaden, where we have an Albanian delegation. But also, through language training for fighter pilots, for technicians. So, you’re doing a lot when it comes to Ukraine.

Outside Albania, you are participating in the foreign land forces in Latvia and Bulgaria. You are active in Kosovo through KFOR. So, you are really punching above weight. And you are quite tall. But still, Albania is not the biggest ally, and Albania is doing a lot. And therefore, I really want to thank you for being such a strong ally.

We know that NATO can count on Albania. You know that Albania can always count on NATO. So again, thank you for visiting.

Thank you for being such a close personal-friend, and for everything you’re doing for NATO.

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Thank you.

It goes without saying that it’s always a pleasure. Not only because of our long friendship. But also because of the very simple fact that there is always something to learn from you.

We are here to reaffirm everything you said and more. So, we want to do more, and we are now launching a rebirth of our military industry. We are very much keen to discuss with you the further work that we may do to make possible the new Greenfield military port in Albania and Porto Romano.

We are here also to talk together about how we can access the safe program of the European Union. Which in terms of security goes beyond the perimeter of the EU countries. And can be beneficial also to NATO countries in Europe. So, thank you for your gracious hospitality.  I believe that you are the number one for having so much energy in early morning, and we are here to make the best out of it.

Thank you!