Albania in foreign policy/ Bushati: He should know his position, we cannot become more Catholic than the Pope

2025-06-30 21:21:00, Politikë CNA

Albania in foreign policy/ Bushati: He should know his position, we cannot

Former Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati, invited to the "Now" show with Erla Mëhilli, spoke about Albania's role in foreign policy. Bushati said that Albania has had a rift in the Euro-Atlantic family.

The former minister said that the transition of the US administration from Biden to Trump has brought a different approach to the war in Ukraine. An approach which, Bushati said, is not in favor of the Europeans and becomes more difficult in the Albanian context. A difficulty which comes, according to Bushati, because we have learned over the years that the Americans were the main providers of security in Europe.

Focusing on Albania's role in foreign policy, Bushati said that a small country should know its position, there may be a change in position, but it should be explained why there is a change in position.

Further, the former minister said that Albania is more integrated on the geopolitical map, but this is not enough. One of Albania's problems in foreign policy, Bushati said, is the port of Durres, which has not become a port for all Albanians.

Bushati said that countries with seas have a strategic advantage, which Albania has not exploited. If the port of Durres were used, the former minister said it could compete with the port of Thessaloniki.

" Albania has had a rift in the Euro-Atlantic family. The transition of administrations from Biden to Trump, a different approach to the war in Ukraine. It is not in favor of Europeans. In the Albanian context it becomes even more difficult, because we are used to the Americans being the main providers of security in Europe, we have felt the Americans as security enforcers. Without the Americans there would be no peace in Kosovo. We know and consider the Americans as security enforcers. The Americans have been security enforcers. We have no voice in the international arena, we must respect our national memories.

A small country should know its position. We cannot become more Catholic than the pope. We can have a change of attitude and explain why we have a change of attitude. These episodes do not honor our homeland.

Albania has a destiny, since the collapse of communism, with some positions that the Socialist Party may have held, Euro-Atlanticism is one of our vectors in foreign policy. I hope that there is no force that opposes this.

More integrated into the geopolitical map, but this is not enough. We have not made the port of Durres a port for all Albanians. It cannot be the decoration of tomorrow, even a beautiful marina in the port of Durres. Nothing replaces the weight that the port of Durres should have. Countries that have a sea have a strategic advantage, we have not used it. The port of Durres could compete with that of Thessaloniki , "said Bushati./ CNA