U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Albania on Thursday to reaffirm relations with a key partner in the Balkans and an ally in supporting Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion. Blinken will meet with top officials and focus on the future of the Western Balkans as Albania and several neighbors seek to join the European Union, according to top U.S. officials. Washington has strongly supported Albania’s integration into the EU.
Quick Read
- Blinken’s Visit to Albania: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Albania to strengthen ties and support the country’s EU integration efforts and its support for Ukraine against Russia.
- Focus on Western Balkans: Discussions will center on the region’s future and EU aspirations, with the U.S. backing Albania’s move towards Euro-Atlantic integration.
- Albania’s Regional Role: Acknowledging Albania’s contributions to peacekeeping missions and its recent tenure on the UN Security Council, Blinken will also prepare for an upcoming Ukraine summit in the country.
- Addressing Kosovo-Serbia Tensions: Blinken may delve into the delicate relations between Kosovo and Serbia, with an emphasis on recent issues like Kosovo’s currency ban in Serb areas.
- Acknowledging Support for Afghans: The visit will highlight Albania’s assistance in housing Afghan refugees post-Taliban takeover, with Blinken expected to meet some of the Afghans still in Albania.
- Next Steps: Following his Albania visit, Blinken will head to Germany for the Munich Security Conference.
The Associated Press has the story:
Blinken visits Albania, a key regional ally seeking EU membership
Newslooks- TIRANA, Albania (AP) —
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Albania on Thursday to reaffirm relations with a key partner in the Balkans and an ally in supporting Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion. Blinken will meet with top officials and focus on the future of the Western Balkans as Albania and several neighbors seek to join the European Union, according to top U.S. officials. Washington has strongly supported Albania’s integration into the EU.
“As a NATO ally and partner, the U.S. supports Albania’s full integration into the Euro-Atlantic community and its pursuit of a more transparent democracy and economy,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The U.S. has praised Albania’s leadership in the former war-torn region and its recent role on the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member. Albania is a NATO member and has regularly assigned small army units to international peacekeeping missions and NATO operations.
Albania will host an international summit on Ukraine later this month, which Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to attend.
Tensions between neighbors Kosovo and Serbia may be addressed during Blinken’s visit. EU-facilitated negotiations to normalize their relations have had slow progress, while occasional violent incidents have fueled fears of instability. The United States and EU have expressed concern over Kosovo’s recent ban on the dinar as currency in its Serb-majority municipalities.
Blinken also will acknowledge Albania’s role after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO troops withdrew from the country. Albania was the first to house about 3,200 fleeing Afghans before they moved for final settlement in the United States.
Blinken is expected to meet some of the remaining small number of Afghans still in Albania.
After one day in the capital, Tirana, Blinken will travel to Germany for the Munich Security Conference.
