U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken comes to Albania this Thursday, where he will meet with state leaders, youth, and Afghans sheltered in the country.
This is the first visit of the American diplomat to Tirana, and according to the U.S. Department of State, it will focus on the future of Albania and the Western Balkans.
According to U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, Yuri Kim, the visit to Tirana coincides with the beginning of the second century of U.S.-Albania relations.
“We want to highlight the good cooperation we have with Albania; we want to thank those who have been the main hosts for Afghans in need and for continuing the Albanian tradition of sheltering those at risk,” Kim said, referring to the reception of nearly 2,400 Afghans who fled their country after the Taliban returned to power in the summer of 2021.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, with whom Blinken will hold a press conference after their meeting on Thursday, earlier said that the visit of the senior American official shows that the Albanian state has risen to “another level” in its international positioning.
“After all, Albania is neither a large country nor a military power. But apparently, it is an important country for the United States, because in such a troubled time and with so much burden for the Secretary of State and U.S. engagement in the world, he sees it necessary and finds the time to stop in Albania, which is certainly not insignificant,” Rama said on February 14.
In addition to meeting with Rama, Blinken will also meet with the President of Albania, Bajram Begaj. During his stay in Albania, the American diplomat will deliver a speech at an event for youth organized to mark the “future of U.S.-Albania relations”, as stated on the official website of the U.S. Department of State.
He will participate in a ceremony for the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the Fulbright student exchange program and in the signing of a memorandum against disinformation manipulation by a foreign state.
Blinken will also meet with Afghans sheltered in Albania, at the request of the United States.
This is Antony Blinken’s first visit to Albania and the sixth of a U.S. Secretary of State. In 1991, James Baker visited Albania, Madeleine Albright in 2000, Colin Powell in 2003, Hillary Clinton in 2012, and John Kerry in 2016.
Blinken’s visit to Albania is part of a two-day trip. After Albania, he will attend the Munich Security Conference, along with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, who will deliver the keynote address.
In Germany, Blinken is expected to focus on Washington’s support for Ukraine, a country facing Russian occupation, as well as to discuss the conflict in the Middle East and the increased tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
