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NATO demands more from Albania, Euronews: Tirana must provide concrete evidence
NATO is sending a "strong message" to Albania about the need to increase defense spending, Euronews reports , citing Alliance sources, who say Tirana has yet to show credible progress in meeting NATO's new military investment targets.
According to Euronews, the draft declaration for the NATO summit to be held next week in Ankara lacks any reference to organizing the upcoming summit in Albania, although it was previously announced that our country would host the meeting of Alliance leaders.
The media writes that the absence of this reference is not accidental. NATO sources told Euronews that it is a deliberate move, to send a clear signal to Tirana that it must increase defense investments and prove that it is able to fulfill the commitments made as a member country of the Alliance.
A NATO source confirmed to the media that the situation has not changed and that the Alliance is sending a "strong message" to Albania, demanding that the country "step up the pace and spend more" on defense.
The issue is related to the decision taken at the Hague Summit last year, where member countries agreed to gradually increase defense spending to 5% of Gross Domestic Product by 2035. This target is considered one of the biggest changes in NATO policy since the end of the Cold War.
However, according to data cited by Euronews, Albania currently spends around 1.49% of GDP on defense, remaining not only far from the new target of 5%, but also below the previous target of 2%, which for years has been the Alliance's minimum standard.
Albania is not the only country facing criticism. Euronews writes that Slovenia and the Czech Republic have also been identified by NATO sources as countries that are not contributing enough to strengthening collective defense. Although NATO's 2025 report ranks both countries above the 2% threshold, Alliance sources told the media that these figures do not reflect the real situation.
The pressure to increase spending has been particularly mounting from the United States. The US administration is demanding that all member countries present credible plans to reach the 5% target within the agreed deadline.
US Ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, stated that European countries cannot continue to rely on the United States for their security.
" There can no longer be countries that benefit from defense architecture for free. This has happened for years at the expense of American taxpayers ," he told reporters.
According to Euronews, Washington is seeking concrete evidence that each ally is on a credible trajectory to meet NATO's new objective, not just political statements.
The NATO summit will be held in Ankara from July 7 to 9, with the participation of leaders of all 32 member countries of the Alliance. US President Donald Trump has confirmed his participation, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the leaders of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain will also be present.
According to Euronews, the issue of defense investment is expected to be one of the main topics of discussion in Ankara, as NATO calls on all allies to accelerate the growth of military capabilities in the face of new security challenges. / Pamphlet
Keto aresyetime jane kot. Shqiperia nuk ka siguri, Israeliti Roni, ka korrupsion ne cdo qelize, nuk ka shtet. Keto jane e duhet të jene shkaku . Shqiperia nuk meriton të beje as Samit NATO e as ato qe ka bere vetem për propagande duke korruptuar zyrtare të BE