Visit of the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias to Albania

Visit of the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias to Albania

May 25, 2026

The Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias conducted today, Monday 25 May 2026, an official visit to Albania, after an invitation by the country's Defence Minister, Ermal Nufi.

After the official reception at the Defence Ministry of Albania, the two Ministers had an initial private meeting and later an extended meeting, with the participation of the two countries' delegations. The talks of the two sides centred on the strengthening of bilateral defence relations, the cooperation within ΝΑΤΟ, as well as the regional and international developments.

The Minister of National Defence mentioned the defence cooperation between Greece and Albania, focused on the principles of International Law and the significance for bilateral relations of respecting the rights of the Greek ethnic minority, which is a pillar of peace, security and progress for the whole region.

Furthermore, Mr Dendias and Mr Nufi agreed that the Joint Experts Committee on Military Cemeteries must immediately convene, an action which ascertains that Greece demonstrates everlasting respect for those who sacrificed themselves for the Homeland.

Subsequently, the Minister of National Defence was received by the Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama. During the private meeting, a detailed discussion took place regarding the geopolitical situation in the wider region, while Mr Dendias had the opportunity to mention Himara, which is considered the place of his family's descent, while he repeated his view that the Greek Ethnic Minority constitutes a bridge of friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

After the end of the meeting, the Albanian Prime Minister gave a tour to the Minister of National Defence of the garden of the Prime Minister's Office (Kryeministria), where he hosted a working lunch for the Greek Minister.

Finally, the Minister of National Defence had a meeting with His Beatitude Archbishop of Tirana, Durres and All Albania, Mr Joani and conducted a visit to the crypt where the late Archbishop Anastasios of Blessed Memory is buried, in the Resurrection of Christ Orthodox Cathedral in Tirana.

After the conclusion of his visit, Mr Dendias stated:

"A short while ago my visit to Albania was concluded. First of all I had the pleasure of meeting with my Albanian counterpart, Mr Ermal Nufi. It was our first meeting, he is the new Defence Minister of Albania. We talked about the deepening of our defence relations. I invited him to visit Athens. He agreed that this visit should take placeat the end of next month.

I think it is a very good opportunityto discuss even more with the Albanian side. Our main point of agreement was ajoint interpretation of the geopolitical challenges that our wider region faces and discover within NATO, but also in the framework of Albania's course of accession to the European family, synergies, where we can help Albania and where Albania can provide its own experience regarding the cyberattacks launched against it in recent months.

Later, I had the honourof being received by the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, where we analysedthe wider geopolitical field, the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and I also had the opportunity to visit and receive the blessing of the Archbishop Joani, the successor of Anastasios of Albania, a man whose memory we all respect immensely.

Thank you very much".