NATO Partnership with Albania Strengthens Focus on Western Balkans

Hungary Today 2024.02.28.

László Hajnik, Deputy State Secretary for Defense Policy in the Ministry of Defense, received Albanian Director of Defense Policy Gjergji Methoxha and his delegation in Budapest on February 22 and 23.

During the meeting, the directors discussed current security challenges, with a particular focus on issues affecting the Western Balkans and the challenges facing member states as NATO allies. They agreed that membership of NATO (Hungary celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and Albania its 15th) and an active contribution to the alliance’s activities and operations are a priority for both countries.

Given their geographical position in the Western Balkans, both countries are key players in the region’s peace and security.

Fact

KFOR (NATO’s peacekeeping force in Kosovo) has been securing peace and security in Kosovo since 1999, after the end of the Kosovo War. In 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia, which Belgrade has refused to recognize ever since, and Serbia continues to consider the area, mostly inhabited by Albanians, as its southern province. Operation Althea, or formally known as EUFOR (European Union Force Bosnia and Herzegovina), is an international force operating under the authority of the European Council. The military operation was launched on December 2, 2004, nine years after the Bosnian War, with the main task of the peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

László Hajnik and Gjergij Methoxha. Photo: honvedelem.hu

During the meeting, the Albanian delegation was informed, among other things, about the Hungarian Defense Forces’ development program and the build-up of the reserve system.

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Via honvedelem.hu; Featured Image: honvedelem.hu