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After this approval in the committee, the candidacy is expected to go to a vote in the Senate plenary session, where his confirmation as the new US ambassador to Tirana will be finally decided...
The United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee has approved by a vote of 19-3 the appointment of Eric Wendt as U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Albania.
Wendt's nomination was supported by a majority of committee members, including senators from both major parties, in a vote that brings the nomination one step closer to final confirmation in the Senate.
After this approval in the committee, the candidacy is expected to go to a vote in the plenary session of the Senate, where his confirmation as the new US ambassador to Tirana will be finally decided.
If confirmed, it seems a formality now, Wendt will take over the US Embassy at a crucial time for US-Albania relations, particularly in the areas of security, investment and Euro-Atlantic cooperation. If his candidacy is approved, Wendt will become the first US ambassador to Tirana after Yuri Kim leaves in June 2023. Since then, the embassy has been run by chargé d’affaires, while subsequent appointments have failed to be finalized.
The absence of a full-time ambassador for such a long period has been seen by many observers as a period in which direct American diplomatic influence on Albanian politics has been more limited. In this context, the appointment of a figure with a high military profile and experience in NATO structures is seen as a signal that Washington intends to increase its engagement in Albania.
During the hearing on May 20, Wendt emphasized his support for SPAK, the fight against corruption and the crackdown on organized crime. He praised the institution of the Special Prosecution Office as independent and apolitical, promising support for maintaining this status.
According to him, cooperation between SPAK and American law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA, and the Department of Justice, has yielded concrete results in international investigations against criminal groups.
Wendt's profile sets him apart from most traditional diplomats. He served more than 34 years in the U.S. military, including more than three decades in the Green Berets, and also headed NATO's Special Operations Command. His career includes missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Philippines, Korea and the Middle East.
EJANI SA ME SHPEJT ZOTI AMBSADOR SE MINJTE DHE ANTIKOMBTARET NE TIRANE PO EDHIN VALLE...NE DUAM PERKRAHEJEN E SHTETIT TUAJ TE MADH CDO HERE QE KEMI QENE SI KOMB NE UDHEKRYQ....JU NA E KENI DHENE.....PADYSHIM...EJANI TI NXIRNI FRIKEN DHE SPAKUT ....PA JU ATA NDIHEN TE PARALIZUAR...KOMBI SHQIPTAR E VLERESON MIQSINE TUAJ DHE JU KA DHENE BESEN E KASAJ MIQESIE ME INTERES DYLALESH......WECOME TO ALBANIA USA AMBASADOR
Welcome Lieutenant General Eric Wendt, Welcome Ambassador.