Foreign relations of Albania
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The foreign relations of Albania are its relations with other governments and peoples. Foreign relations are conducted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tirana. The current minister is Elisa Spiropali. The current ambassador to the United Nations is Suela Janina.
Albania is a sovereign country in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean that declared its independence on 28 November 1912. Its foreign policy has maintained a policy of complementarianism by trying to have friendly relations with all countries. Since the collapse of Communism in 1990, Albania has extended its responsibilities and position in European and international affairs, supporting and establishing friendly relations with other nations around the world.
The main factors defining Albanian foreign policy consist of geopolitical location, population, economic crisis, and ties with Albanian diaspora throughout the world. It also maintains strong diplomatic relations with the EU (primarily Greece, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy) Balkan countries (primarily Kosovo, Turkey, and North Macedonia), Arab world, Canada, China, Israel, India, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, UK and the United States.
The main objectives of the Albanian foreign policy are the accession of Albania to the European Union, the international recognition of Kosovo, the recognition of expulsion of Cham Albanians,[1] helping and protecting the rights of Albanians in Montenegro, North Macedonia, Greece, Serbia, Italy, and the Albanian diaspora.
Albania was voted to become a member of the 15-country United Nations Security Council for a two-year term, 2022–23.
Overview
The government of Albania was concerned with the developments in neighboring Kosovo, particularly in the post-Dayton agreement period. During the Kosovo War in 1999 as well as the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo Albanians by Serbs alongside the subsequent refugee influx into the country, Albania's status as an ally of the United States was confirmed.[2] Albania emerged as being generally supportive of the United States.[2] The support for the United States has remained high at 95% in Muslim majority (56% of the population) Albania in contrast to the rest of the Islamic world.[2]
Balkans/Albania
Turkey
During the post-cold war, geo-political complexities and conflicts in the Balkans, made Albania seek a protector power with Turkey, which is a NATO member.[3] During the 1990s, state relations between Albania and Turkey were marked by high level visits, military agreements and the deployment of Turkish soldiers.[4][3][5] An Albanian-Turkish military cooperation agreement was signed on 29 July 1992.[4][3] The military agreement entailed education and training of personnel, bilateral cooperation in weapons production, joint military exercises, the exchange of military delegations and joint commissions on expanding further military ties into the future.[3] The agreement also encompassed rebuilding Albania's Pasha Liman Base in the Bay of Vlorë on the Ionian Sea by Turkey, in return for granting Turkey's access and use.[6][5] Turkey has trained the Albanian Armed Forces, in particular officers and commando units.[4][6][5] During civil war in 1997, Turkey alongside other countries, participated in Operation Alba by providing a brigade of 800 Turkish troops to restore order and its involvement served mainly as a stabilising force.[4][7]
Turkey considers its friendship with Albania as important due to the context of state relations with Greece and through policy have exploited difficulties arising in Albanian-Greek relations.[8][9] Having a powerful ally in Turkey has suited Albania at times regarding difficult interstate relations with Greece.[10] Albania's emergence in the Balkans as a key NATO partner contributed to good and stronger Albanian-Turkish relations, in particular relating to military matters.[11] The military alliance during the 1990s between Turkey and Albania was also aimed against Serbia in case a war over Kosovo had a wider regional spread.[12] Greece has expressed concerns regarding Turkish relations with Albania and interpreted them as an anti-Greek measure to isolate Greece within the wider context of Albania being a potential outlet for expanding Muslim influence and Turkey allying with Muslim populations in the Balkans.[3][13][14] Turkey on the other hand claimed Greece increased tensions within the region and conveyed concerns relating to Albanian and Greek polemics with Ankara expressing a partial bias on Albania's side angering the Greeks.[15] Greece, aware of Albanian-Turkish military agreements denounced Turkey's interference in Greek affairs.[15] Though not officially considered in Turkey as a rival within Albania, during the unrest of 1997 Greece was able to become an influential actor in Albania and the early period of the Kosovo crisis (1998-1999) when Albanian officials looked to Greece for assistance.[16] The resumption of closer Albanian-Turkish relations ensured during the Kosovo crisis that made both countries act along the same policy lines toward Slobodan Milošević and the issue of Greater Serbia.[17]
Turkey supported Albania's membership to become part of NATO.[4] Military cooperation between Albania and Turkey is viewed by NATO as a stabilising factor within the volatile region of the Balkans.[18] Albania has come to depend heavily on Turkish assistance and a high amount of military security.[3] Turkey remains for Albania an important military ally alongside the U.S.[19] Through its military personnel Turkey continues to train Albanian armed forces and also to provide assistance in logistics and modernisation efforts of the Albanian military.[20][21] Radar systems for the surveillance of Albanian airspace in addition to telecommunication equipment have been supplied by Turkey to Albania.[22] Albania receives Turkish assistance for police training.[17] Turkey has continuously supported Albania from the 1990s on EU related matters as both countries view EU membership as an eventual final goal and common objective.[23] State relations of Albania with Turkey are friendly and close, due to maintenance of close links with the Albanian diaspora in Turkey and strong Turkish sociopolitical, cultural, economic and military ties with Albania.[24][25][26][27][28][29][4] Turkey has been supportive of Albanian geopolitical interests within the Balkans.[28][4][30] In Gallup polls conducted in recent times Turkey is viewed as a friendly country by 73% of people in Albania.[31] Albania has established political and economic ties with Arab countries, in particular with Arab Persian Gulf states who have heavily invested in religious, transport and other infrastructure alongside other facets of the economy in addition to the somewhat limited societal links they share.[32] Albania is also working to develop social-political and economic ties with Israel.[33]
Greece
After the fall of the Albanian communist regime in 1991, relations between Greece and Albania became increasingly strained because of widespread allegations of mistreatment by Albanian authorities of the Greek ethnic minority in southern Albania and of mistreatment the Albanian communities in northern Greece. A wave of Albanian illegal economic migrants to Greece exacerbated tensions. The crisis in Greek–Albanian relations reached its peak in late August 1994, when an Albanian court sentenced five members (a sixth member was added later) of the ethnic Greek political party Omonia to prison terms on charges of undermining the Albanian state. Greece responded by freezing all EU aid to Albania, and sealing its border with Albania. In December 1994, however, Greece began to permit limited EU aid to Albania, while Albania released two of the Omonia defendants and reduced the sentences of the remaining four. [citation needed]
There are still other impending issues in the relations between the two countries, regarding many Albanian workers in Greece who have not received legal papers despite promises by the Greek government. In 1996, the two countries signed a Treaty of Peace and Friendship and discussed the issues of the status of Albanian refugees in Greece and education in the mother tongue for the ethnic Greek minority in southern Albania. In the 1990s, Greece preferred and assisted Fatos Nano as Albanian leader due to him being Orthodox over Sali Berisha a Muslim, as Nano was seen as being friendlier to Greek interests.[34] The government of Fatos Nano was viewed by Turkey as having a pro-Greek orientation and expressed some dissatisfaction though during that time still maintained close military relations with Albania in rebuilding its armed forces and a military base.[19]
Today, as result of very frequent high-level contacts between the governments and the parliaments, relations between the two countries are regarded as excellent. Greece is a staunch supporter of the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Republic of Albania. Since Albania's NATO entry in May 2009, Albanian-Greek relations have been developing on all fronts, and especially after the election victory of Edi Rama in 2013,[35] with the Albanian Chief of Foreign Policy, Ralf Gjoni, describing the diplomatic relations between two countries as "excellent". Greece today is Albania's most important European Union ally and NATO partner.[36] At the Albanian government's request, about 250 Greek military personnel are stationed in Albania to assist with the training and restructuring of the Albanian Armed Forces, as part of the NATO programme. Big projects currently in running between the two countries include the touristic development of the Ionian coastline shared between the two countries, and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which helped boosting the relations of the two countries even further.
Albania's ties with Greece are also based on cultural and historic relations of the two peoples, including migration and national minorities. In addition, since Albania's transition to democracy, Greece has become a major financial partner of the country with Albania's economy being heavily reliant on investments from Greece. Culturally, the two nations' populations, whilst having a tense history, share numerous cultural and historic traits that have been used to boost the political relations of the neighbouring countries.
There had been numerous discussions, research and attempts by Albanians and Greeks to form a confederation during the Ottoman period.[37] In the 19th century there were plans to create a Greek-Albanian confederation, which was revived from the earlier 18th century plans. In 1907 a special protocol and memorandum of understanding was signed by Neoklis Kazazis and Ismail Qemali, the first prime minister of Albania. Furthermore, Arvanite author Aristides Kollias in his book "The proclamation of the Association of Arvanites" states "from 1881 to 1907 we have sustained efforts and repeated consultations between Greeks and Albanians to create a Greek-Albanian state." In addition, Thanos Paleologos-Anagnostopoulos in his book "Greece and Albania in the early 20th century (1995)" stated that Ismail Qemali, a philhellene, worked with numerous Greek politicians and lobbyists, including Arvanite leaders, on a possible Greek-Albanian federation, one that "maintains national and religious independence of the two peoples."[38] Likewise, Neoklis Kazazis saw this as a way of Greece quashing Italian influence in the region.[39]
International
Albania was voted to become a member of the 15-country UN Security Council for a two-year term, in 2022–23, on 11 June 2021.[40] Former ambassador Kadare said that Albania's priorities in the Security Council will include a focus on women, peace, and security, promoting human rights and international law, preventing conflicts, protecting civilians, countering violent extremism, addressing climate change and its links to security, and strengthening multilateralism and the rules-based international order.[40] She tweeted thanks to all countries that: "entrusted us with this huge responsibility".[40]
- Disputes
The Albanian government supports the protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians outside of its borders but has downplayed them to further its primary foreign policy goal of regional cooperation; Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks full recognition of the declared independence from Serbia; Albanians in the Republic of Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs, and representation in government.[citation needed] A handful of Albanian troops have participated in the U.S.-led military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.[41] Albanian policy is very favorable to that of the United States and European Union.
The $30 million Albanian-American Enterprise Fund (AAEF), launched in 1994, is actively making debt and equity investments in local businesses.[42] AAEF is designed to harness private sector efforts to assist in the economic transformation. U.S. assistance priorities include promotion of agricultural development and a market economy, advancement of democratic institutions (including police training), and improvements in quality of life.
- International conflicts
In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Albania has expressed support for Ukraine and also supported Latvia's nomination to join the United Nations Security Council in 2025.[43]
List of countries
List of countries which Albania maintains diplomatic relations with:
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Country | Date |
| 1 |  Romania | 28 December 1913[44] |
| 2 |  Italy | 21 February 1914[45] |
| 3 |  Serbia | 25 April 1914[46] |
| 4 |  Bulgaria | April 1914[47] |
| 5 |  United Kingdom | 9 November 1921[48] |
| 6 |  Austria | 18 February 1922[49] |
| 7 |  Japan | 18 April 1922[50] |
| 8 |  Hungary | 23 May 1922[51] |
| 9 |  France | 16 June 1922[52] |
| 10 |  Czech Republic | 5 July 1922[53] |
| 11 |  United States | 4 December 1922[54] |
| 12 |  Greece | 4 January 1923[55] |
| 13 |  Turkey | 15 December 1923[56] |
| 14 |  Russia | 4 July 1924[57] |
| 15 |  Uruguay | 23 April 1932[58] |
| 16 |  Poland | 7 April 1937[59] |
| 17 |  North Korea | 29 November 1948[60] |
| 18 |  Mongolia | 24 March 1949[61] |
| 19 |  China | 23 November 1949[62] |
| 20 |  Vietnam | 11 February 1950[63] |
| 21 |  India | 3 March 1956[64] |
| 22 |  Egypt | 19 April 1956[65] |
| 23 |  Finland | 8 June 1956[66] |
| 24 |  Sudan | February 1957[67] |
| 25 |  Ethiopia | 26 June 1958[68] |
| 26 |  Iraq | 14 August 1958[69] |
| 27 |  Guinea | October 1958[67] |
| 28 |  Somalia | September 1960[70] |
| 29 |  Cuba | 15 December 1960[71] |
| 30 |  Brazil | 4 April 1961[72] |
| 31 |  Ghana | 11 August 1961[67][73] |
| 32 |  Morocco | 11 February 1962[74] |
| 33 |  Cambodia | 5 September 1962[75] |
| 34 |  Algeria | 12 February 1963[76] |
| 35 |  Mali | 9 February 1965[77][78] |
| 36 |  Pakistan | 24 July 1965[67][79] |
| 37 |  Indonesia | 18 August 1965[80] |
| 38 |  Mauritania | 24 September 1965[67][81] |
| 39 |  Tanzania | May 1966[67] |
| 40 |  Republic of the Congo | 23 June 1968[82] |
| 41 |  Kuwait | 8 August 1968[83] |
| 42 |  Syria |
27 May 1969[84] |
| 43 |  Sweden | 20 June 1969[85] |
| 44 |  Zambia | 9 July 1969[86] |
| 45 |  Libya | 6 May 1970[87] |
| 46 |  Central African Republic | 23 May 1970[88] |
| 47 |  Denmark | 29 May 1970[89] |
| 48 |  Switzerland | 20 July 1970[90] |
| 49 |  Belgium | 13 November 1970[91] |
| 50 |  Netherlands | 17 November 1970[92] |
| — |  Iran (severed) | 24 May 1971[93] |
| 51 |  Norway | 29 May 1971[94] |
| 52 |  Chile | 10 September 1971[95] |
| 53 |  Peru | 6 December 1971[96] |
| 54 |  Luxembourg | 15 April 1972[97] |
| 55 |  Nepal | 23 May 1972[98] |
| 56 |  Equatorial Guinea | 30 November 1972[99][100] |
| 57 |  Costa Rica | 20 February 1973[101] |
| 58 |  Malta | 5 March 1973[102] |
| 59 |  Senegal | 26 April 1973[103] |
| 60 |  Nigeria | 22 May 1973[104] |
| 61 |  Cameroon | 20 August 1973[105] |
| 62 |  Argentina | 4 October 1973[106] |
| 63 |  Tunisia | 8 October 1973[103] |
| 64 |  Burundi | 7 November 1973[107][108] |
| 65 |  New Zealand | 1973[107] |
| 66 |  Lebanon | 28 May 1974[99] |
| 67 |  Benin | 4 October 1974[109] |
| 68 |  Mexico | 15 October 1974[110] |
| 69 |  Guinea-Bissau | 15 November 1974[111] |
| 70 |  Gabon | 16 November 1974[112] |
| 71 |  Laos | 18 June 1975[113] |
| 72 |  Mozambique | 25 June 1975[114] |
| 73 |  Venezuela | 14 October 1975[115] |
| 74 |  Iceland | 9 April 1976[116] |
| 75 |  Madagascar | 28 April 1976[117] |
| 76 |  San Marino | 21 June 1976[118] |
| 77 |  Sierra Leone | 23 August 1976[119] |
| 78 |  Myanmar | 15 December 1976[120] |
| 79 |  Burkina Faso | 15 January 1977[121] |
| 80 |  Portugal | 21 June 1977[122] |
| 81 |  Togo |
25 June 1977[123][124] |
| 82 |  Bangladesh | 10 August 1977[125] |
| 83 |  Mauritius |
October 1977[126] |
| 84 |  Yemen | May 1978[127] |
| 85 |  Panama | 20 August 1978[128] |
| 86 |  São Tomé and Príncipe | 20 November 1979[129] |
| 87 |  Nicaragua | November 1979[130] |
| 88 |  Colombia | 5 December 1979[131] |
| 89 |  Ecuador | 31 January 1980[132] |
| 90 |  Sri Lanka | 4 March 1980[133] |
| 91 |  Djibouti | 2 April 1980[134] |
| 92 |  Zimbabwe | 18 April 1980[135] |
| 93 |  Seychelles | 16 May 1980[136] |
| 94 |  Niger | 18 June 1980[137] |
| 95 |  Lesotho |
June 1980[138] |
| 96 |  Cape Verde | 6 August 1980[139] |
| 97 |  Malaysia | 24 June 1981[140] |
| 98 |  Botswana | 30 August 1982[141] |
| 99 |  Thailand |
30 September 1982[142] |
| 100 |  Kenya | 2 February 1983[143] |
| 101 |  Barbados | 19 May 1983[144] |
| 102 |  Australia | 16 September 1984[145] |
| 103 |  Ivory Coast | 9 January 1985[146] |
| 104 |  Guyana | 1 May 1985[147] |
| 105 |  Malawi | 12 July 1985[148] |
| 106 |  Spain | 12 September 1986[149] |
| 107 |  Singapore | 20 November 1986[150] |
| 108 |  Jordan | 18 May 1987[151] |
| 109 |  Philippines | 11 June 1987[152] |
| 110 |  Bolivia | 21 August 1987[153] |
| 111 |  Canada | 10 September 1987[154] |
| 112 |  Germany | 2 October 1987[155] |
| 113 |  Angola | 17 August 1988[156] |
| — |  State of Palestine | 26 October 1989[157] |
| 114 |  Namibia | 2 August 1990[158] |
| 115 |  Israel | 19 August 1991[159] |
| 116 |  South Korea | 22 August 1991[160] |
| 117 |  Papua New Guinea | 28 August 1991[161] |
| 118 |  Cyprus | 29 August 1991[162] |
| — |  Holy See | 7 September 1991[163] |
| 119 |  Kyrgyzstan | 4 January 1992[164] |
| 120 |  Estonia | 17 January 1992[165] |
| 121 |  Slovenia | 10 March 1992[166][167] |
| 122 |  Lithuania | 27 April 1992[165] |
| 123 |  Latvia | 29 April 1992[165] |
| 124 |  United Arab Emirates | 1 June 1992[168] |
| 125 |  Paraguay | 29 July 1992[162] |
| 126 |  Croatia | 25 August 1992[169] |
| 127 |  Qatar | 26 August 1992[170] |
| 128 |  Saudi Arabia | 2 December 1992[171] |
| 129 |  Oman | 7 December 1992[172] |
| 130 |  Moldova | 23 December 1992[173] |
| 131 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 28 December 1992[174] |
| 132 |  Slovakia |
1 January 1993[165] |
| 133 |  Ukraine | 13 January 1993[162] |
| 134 |  Guatemala | 29 January 1993[162] |
| 135 |  Armenia | 18 February 1993[175] |
| 136 |  Liechtenstein | 23 April 1993[176] |
| 137 |  Bahrain | 10 May 1993[177] |
| 138 |  Belarus | 17 May 1993[178] |
| 139 |  Georgia | 8 July 1993[179] |
| 140 |  Kazakhstan | 21 September 1993[180] |
| 141 |  Azerbaijan | 23 September 1993[181] |
| 142 |  Uzbekistan | 23 November 1993[182] |
| 143 |  Tajikistan | 22 December 1993[183] |
| 144 |  North Macedonia | 24 December 1993[184] |
| 145 |  South Africa | December 1993[185] |
| 146 |  Brunei | 27 January 1994[186] |
| 147 |  Turkmenistan | 24 March 1994[187] |
| — |  Sovereign Order of Malta | 14 July 1994[188] |
| 148 |  Ireland | January 1995[189] |
| 149 |  Andorra | 15 February 1996[190] |
| 150 |  Jamaica | 3 April 1996[162] |
| 151 |  Dominican Republic | 27 May 2002[191] |
| 152 |  El Salvador | 25 July 2003[192] |
| 153 |  Montenegro | 1 August 2006[193] |
| 154 |  Afghanistan | 16 August 2006[194] |
| — |  Kosovo | 18 February 2008[195] |
| 155 |  Maldives | 25 June 2008[196] |
| 156 |  Samoa | 1 August 2008[162] |
| 157 |  Fiji | 23 June 2010[197] |
| 158 |  Saint Lucia | 14 July 2010[162] |
| 159 |  Honduras | 2 September 2010[198] |
| 160 |  Nauru | 20 April 2011[162] |
| 161 |  Solomon Islands | 19 May 2011[199] |
| 162 |  Tuvalu | 1 June 2011[162] |
| 163 |  Monaco | 24 November 2011[200] |
| 164 |  Trinidad and Tobago | 13 May 2014[162] |
| 165 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis | 31 October 2018[201] |
| 166 |  Dominica |
20 March 2025[202] |
In 2008 and 2009, the Albanian Parliament ordered the Foreign Ministry to establish diplomatic relations with countries which Albania did not maintain diplomatic relations with, namely Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, East Timor, Eswatini, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Kiribati, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Rwanda, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda and Vanuatu.[203][204]
Diplomatic relations were suspended with Iran on 7 September 2022.[205]
Organizations
Albania is member in these international organizations:[206]
AC, APF, BIE, BSEC, CEB, CoBx, CoE, CERN (Non-Member State), CEI, CCC, CEFTA, ECE, EAPC, EBRD, EITI, ECAA, ECAC, EC, ENTSO-E, Eurocontrol, FAO, FIUs, IAEA, IAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICC, ICRC, ICRM, ICCROM, IDA, IDB, IHO, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, IOM, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, OAS, OB, OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, OTIF, PCA, SEECP, SECI, SETC, UN, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNDSS, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNW, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, UfM, VC, WB, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO and WTO.
Diplomatic relations
Africa
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Egypt | 19 April 1956[65] | See Albania–Egypt relations |
| Libya | 6 May 1970[87] | See Albania–Libya relations
Albania was one of the first countries to recognize the National Transitional Council on 18 July 2011 as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people.[209][210][211] |
| Tunisia | 8 October 1973[103] |
|
| Morocco | 11 February 1962[74] |
Since the start of diplomatic relations, both countries have shown a willingness to collaborate, particularly in the field of trade. In January 2005, Albania revoked its 'de facto' recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in favor of Morocco.[213] |
Americas
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 4 April 1961[72] | See Albania–Brazil relations
|
| Canada | 10 September 1987[154] | See Albania–Canada relations |
| Cuba |
15 December 1960[71] | |
| Mexico | 15 October 1974[216] | See Albania–Mexico relations
Mexico recognized and established diplomatic relations with Albania on 15 October 1974. Shortly thereafter Mexico opened a resident embassy in Tirana, however the embassy was closed in 1979.[217]
|
| United States | 4 December 1922[54] | See Albania–United States relations |
Asia
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Azerbaijan | 23 September 1993[181] | See Albania–Azerbaijan relations |
| China | 23 November 1949[62] | See Albania–China relations
People's Socialist Republic of Albania under Enver Hoxha, moved an annual resolution in the General Assembly to transfer China's seat at the United Nations from the Republic of China to the People's Republic of China. On 25 October 1971, Resolution 2758, sponsored by Albania, was passed by the General Assembly, withdrawing recognition of the ROC as the legitimate government of China, and recognizing the PRC as the sole legitimate government of China. Albania was the first country to recognize the People's Republic China. Albania and People's Republic China established diplomatic relations on 23 November 1949.[62]
|
| Cyprus | 29 August 1991[162] | |
| India | 3 March 1956[64] | See Albania–India relations |
| Iran | 24 May 1971[93] (suspended)[205] | See Albania–Iran relations
|
| Israel | 19 August 1991[159] | See Albania–Israel relations |
| Japan | 18 April 1922[50] | See Albania–Japan relations
Albania and Japan resumed established diplomatic relations in March 1981.[227] |
| Kuwait | 8 August 1968[83] |
|
| Malaysia | 24 June 1981[140] |
|
| North Korea | 29 November 1948[60] | |
| Pakistan | 24 July 1965[67][79] | In December 2006, Albanian deputy foreign minister Anton Gurakqui visited Pakistan to hold bilateral consultation with Pakistani political leadership. Pakistan also offers training facilities to young Albanian bureaucrats in the field of banking, finance, management and diplomacy.[228] |
| Palestine | 26 October 1989[157] | See Albania–Palestine relations |
| Turkey | 15 December 1923[56] | See Albania–Turkey relations |
Europe
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | 18 February 1922[49] | See Albania–Austria relations |
| Belgium | 13 November 1970[91] | See Albania–Belgium relations |
| Bulgaria | April 1914[47] | See Albania–Bulgaria relations |
| Croatia | 25 August 1992[169] | See Albania–Croatia relations |
| Czech Republic | 5 July 1922[53] | See Albania–Czech Republic relations
The multi-national Communist armed forces' sole joint action was the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968. All member countries, with the exception of the People's Republic of Albania and the Socialist Republic of Romania participated in the invasion. Albania formally withdrew form the Warsaw Pact in 1968 over the matter.[230] |
| Denmark | 1 May 1970[231] | See Albania–Denmark relations
|
| Estonia | 17 January 1992[165] | See Albania–Estonia relations |
| France | 16 June 1922[52] | See Albania–France relations |
| Germany | 2 October 1987[155] | See Albania–Germany relations |
| Greece | 4 January 1923[55] | See Albania–Greece relations
|
| Holy See | 7 September 1991[163] | See Albania–Holy See relations |
| Hungary | 23 May 1922[51] | See Albania–Hungary relations |
| Iceland | 9 April 1976[116] | See Albania–Iceland relations |
| Ireland | January 1995[189] | See Albania–Ireland relations |
| Italy | 21 February 1914[45] | See Albania–Italy relations |
| Kosovo | 18 February 2008[195] | See Albania–Kosovo relations |
| Latvia | 29 April 1992[165] | See Albania–Latvia relations
|
| Lithuania | 27 April 1992[165] | See Albania–Lithuania relations |
| Montenegro | 1 August 2006[193] | See Albania–Montenegro relations |
| Netherlands | 17 November 1970[92] | See Albania–Netherlands relations |
| North Macedonia | 24 December 1993[184] | See Albania–North Macedonia relations |
| Poland | 7 April 1937[59] | See Albania–Poland relations |
| Portugal | 21 June 1977[122] | See Albania–Portugal relations |
| Romania | 28 December 1913[44] | See Albania–Romania relations |
| Russia | 4 July 1924[57] | See Albania–Russia relations |
| Serbia | 25 April 1914[46] | See Albania-Serbia relations |
| Slovakia | 1 January 1993[165] | See Albania–Slovakia relations |
| Slovenia | 10 March 1992[166][167] | See Albania–Slovenia relations |
| Spain | 12 September 1986[149] | See Albania–Spain relations |
| Ukraine | 13 January 1993[162] | See Albania–Ukraine relations
|
| United Kingdom | 9 November 1921[48] | See Albania–United Kingdom relations
Both countries share common membership of the Council of Europe, European Court of Human Rights, the International Criminal Court, NATO, OSCE, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Taxation Agreement,[250] an Investment Agreement,[251] a Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement,[252] a Readmission Agreement,[48] and an Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons.[48] |
Oceania
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 16 September 1984[145] | See Albania–Australia relations |
Multilateral
| Organisation | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 European Union | 20 June 1991[253] | See Accession of Albania to the European Union
Albania applied in 2009 to join and became an official candidate in June 2014. The Commission recommended the launch of negotiations on 9 November 2016.[254] In 2020 EU ministers agree to start accession talks,[1] on 19 July 2022 Albania starts accession talks and holds the first Intergovernmental Conference on accession negotiations.[29] |
 NATO | 1992 | See Albania–NATO relations
At the 2008 Bucharest summit, NATO invited Albania to join the alliance. In April 2009 Albania became a full member of NATO, which remains popular in the country especially due to its intervention in the Kosovo war on behalf of ethnic Albanians.[255] Within the Balkans, Albania is considered to be the most pro-European and pro-Western country in the region and unlike its neighbours, except Kosovo, it has negligible support for Russia.[256][24] |
 United Nations | 14 December 1955 | See Albania and the United Nations |
