Joint press point

Prime Minister Rama, dear Edi,

Welcome back to NATO Headquarters.
It’s great to see you again so shortly after the Madrid Summit. 

Albania is really a highly valued Ally and I appreciate this opportunity to meet with you again. 

Albania contributes to NATO’s multinational forces in Latvia and in Bulgaria, and you help us to deter any aggression against any NATO Allied country.

You also contribute to NATO’s KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo.

The Western Balkans is of strategic importance to NATO.
And we appreciate Albania’s commitment to promoting stability and cooperation across the region.  

At the NATO Summit in Madrid, we took far-reaching decisions to strengthen and transform the Alliance.

These include a fundamental shift in our deterrence and defence posture.
More support to Ukraine.
And a new Strategic Concept.
We also agreed to invite Finland and Sweden to join NATO.

And I commend Albania for ratifying the Accession Protocols for both countries so quickly. Thank you so much.

This shows that NATO’s door remains open.
And that we continue to stand up for the right of every nation to choose its own path.

Welcoming Finland and Sweden into the Alliance will make them safer, NATO stronger, and all of us more secure.

This is vital as we face the biggest security crisis in decades.

NATO stands with Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s brutal war.
We are providing unprecedented levels of support. 
And this will continue for the longer term.

I welcome Albania’s support for Ukraine, including your recent pledge of humanitarian aid.

And also your recent visit to Ukraine was an important demonstration of solidarity.

So Prime Minister Rama, dear Edi, 

Thank you again for Albania’s contributions to our shared security.

I look forward to continuing working together with you. So once again, welcome.