Transport Corridor 8 from Albania to the Black Sea has been officially included in NATO's plans and critical infrastructure, Albanian Defense Minister Piro Vengu wrote on social media after the NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels yesterday, ATA reported, BTA reported.
NATO defense ministers met in the Belgian capital to set new goals based on a realistic assessment of the current security situation, ATA said.
„At the defense ministers' meeting, Corridor 8 – from the Durres-Porto Romano port complex to the Black Sea, has been officially included in NATO's plans and critical infrastructure“, wrote Pirro Vengu on social networks.
“This is a concrete achievement that places Albania at the center of all regional plans within the framework of the infrastructure that the Alliance will focus on in the coming years“, he added.
Albania joined NATO in 2009 together with Croatia.
Prime Minister Edi Rama also reacted to the announcement, emphasizing that “Corridor 8 is officially recognized as a security corridor for collective defense“, adding that this “significantly strengthens regional security“, informed ATA. An economic forum on Corridor 8 will be held in the Albanian capital Tirana on February 18, the agency reported earlier, citing a statement from the Albanian Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
As a key component of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), Corridor 8 connects Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia and Bulgaria, also extending to Italy and Romania, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Piro Vengu also noted that the meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels provided an opportunity to discuss with allies the future of NATO operations in which Albania participates, in particular the KFOR mission in Kosovo, where the possibility of increasing capacity is being assessed. Albania will expand its participation in the mission, including by deploying its air force for the first time.
“In close cooperation with the United States and the US European Command, all necessary reviews are being carried out for the future of this mission, which provides an excellent opportunity for the newly elected government of Kosovo to deepen its cooperation with the Alliance“, Vengu was quoted by ATA.“
He also stressed that NATO allies are not only increasing defense investments, but are also restructuring the way the defense industry generates additional capabilities.
“Albania has resolutely embarked on this path, creating new capabilities daily, with several contracts signed and others under negotiation“, he added.
Vengu said that these initiatives have been met with approval by all NATO allies. He also noted that together with its Turkish counterparts and the NATO Secretariat in Brussels, Albania has begun preparations for the 2027 Tirana Summit.