As Albania is defending democracy and standing up for a shared global security together with the United States and Great Britain, supporting Ukraine’s full territorial sovereignty and independence; the international contributions and diplomatic grit of President Bajram Begaj have effectively promoted and strengthened Tirana’s foreign policy interests in Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Since becoming president on July 24th, 2022, Mr. Begaj was actively engaged in many international events including the X Session of the “Global Baku Forum” organized by the “Nizami Ganjavi International Center” founded in Baku (March 9-12, 2023) under the topic: “The World of Today: Challenges and Hopes”; where the Albanian head of state was part of the session: “Western Balkans in the context of the European Union”.
As we commemorate over two years of President Begaj’s tenure, Albania and Azerbaijan have written the next chapter of strategic bilateral cooperation in energy economics, trade and agriculture: while striving to make Eurasia a region full of possibilities and resilience.
Since 2022, Albanian president has conducted three official meetings with the President of Azerbaijan, H. E. Ilham Aliyev; Bajram Begaj’s first official visit abroad was in Baku, on July 7th, 2023. Albanian Foreign Policy has a propensity to shape a balance of power that encompasses growing trade partnership with Baku; establishing strong military alliances with several EU – NATO member states; advocating for a limited retaliation. The inalienable role of President Begaj has elevated Albanian Diplomatic actions into a greater global exposure and harnessed geopolitical and geoeconomic discourses that are in the best interest of Tirana and its strategic partners.
Over the last two years, President Begaj has officially welcomed to Tirana, fifteen presidents among them Croatia’s Zoran Milanović, Austria’s Dr. Alexander Van der Bellen and Germany’s Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Furthermore, Albanian president has visited fifteen nations and the NATO headquarters (on two occasions). Some of the countries visited are Azerbaijan, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia and Latvia. Mr. Begaj has also conducted seven working visits to the Republic of Kosova.
Albanian president has shown extensive courage and commitment towards preserving regional peace, economic prosperity and has renewed a crusade to export democracy and a peace-loving discourse across the globe.
Tirana has clearly understood the power of other actors in the Balkans and its foreign policy conduct is characterized by prudence and comprehensive integration into the EU and other structures of multilateral cooperation. It is time for Albania to join the Organization of Turkic States and the Pacific Alliance (Alianza del Pacífico), as an observing member nation. Within a geopolitical perspective, the PA would strengthen Albania’s political presence in the Pacific and South America, while fostering additional economic links with Southeast Asia and Oceania. Furthermore, it offers Albania a unique platform of economic opportunities to promote its free trade agenda in Latin America and the Caribbean islands.
Although a small country by its territorial size, Albania is a proud example among the UN member nations, where globally insignificant nations are stalwart defenders of regional security and promoters of free trade and democratic institutions across the world. A testament to that is Tirana’s engagement on the international stage – the diplomatic engagement in the UN Security Council – and Albania’s action to stand up against the Russian aggression on the territorial integrity of a sovereign country like Ukraine.
On June 9th, 2023, President Begaj, joined by the President of Estonia H.E. Mr. Alar Karis attended a cybersecurity exercise organized by the Estonian e-Governance Academy and CybExer Technologies in Tirana. Estonia and Albania are two small countries at the opposite ends of Europe. Tirana’s relations with Tallinn are founded on solid grounds: they both are steadfast NATO allies, firmly united by their position vis-a-vis the Russian aggression in Ukraine, true members of the European family. Albania has always had Estonia’s full support on its path to integration in the European Union. Both countries tend to have similar challenges, and they face the same kind of difficult choices in managing their societies. Tallinn has a greater need for international collaboration, and its reliable Albanian partners will serve well to its economic and political interests across multilateral organizations and various regional trading blocks.
President Bajram Begaj has provided a rare quality of statecraft to Albania’s Foreign Policy in the making, opening new channels of diplomatic dialogue and encouraging bilateral economic partnerships that were never thought possible by his immediate predecessor; his skills in presidential diplomacy have enormously improved Albania’s image abroad.
Peter Tase is a freelance writer and journalist of International Relations, Latin American and Southern Caucasus current affairs.
