Amid Europe’s security uncertainty, Albania is strengthening its alliance with Turkey to bolster defense and stability.

In 2005, Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano, alongside Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, laid the groundwork for a more ambitious bilateral relationship. Their cooperation extended across defense, economic development, transportation, education, and tourism, signaling a deliberate effort to align two countries situated at the crossroads of Europe’s shifting geopolitical architecture. Central to this effort was the bilateral agreement on Maritime Trade and Transportation, which enabled Turkish and Albanian enterprises to establish maritime transport companies, develop modular floating drydocks, expand shipyard capacity, and design essential maritime infrastructure.

This partnership unfolded against a backdrop of mounting global uncertainty: a disrupted economic order, strained transatlantic relationships, and an increasingly opaque European Union struggling to formulate a cohesive response to Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Albania has steadily revived and recalibrated its strategic and security partnership with Turkey, positioning Ankara as a key interlocutor in its broader geopolitical orientation.

As Dr. Nele Marianne Ewers-Peters of Maastricht University has observed, “the continuous changes and transformations of the European security landscape demand new responses to threats and challenges.” Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 did more than galvanize the European Union and NATO into renewed unity. They also underscored the necessity of deeper, more flexible regional alliances. It was within this evolving security paradigm that Nano welcomed Erdoğan to Tirana on February 15, 2005, to advance discussions on regional security, economic cooperation, and transportation projects.

The resulting maritime agreement was more than a technical framework. It marked a significant milestone in codifying the rules of maritime trade while expanding bilateral commercial opportunities, effectively embedding both nations more deeply into shared economic and logistical networks.

That spirit of strategic alignment has continued to manifest in tangible ways. In July 2019, the 139-meter amphibious Turkish vessel TCG Bayraktar anchored in Durrës, Albania’s principal Adriatic port, symbolizing not only military cooperation but also a visible projection of shared security interests. The visit reflected a broader trajectory in which Turkey has sought to expand its naval capabilities and assert a more pronounced regional presence.

This ambition is perhaps most clearly embodied in the development of the TCG Anadolu, an amphibious assault ship classified as a Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD). Conceived as part of Turkey’s naval modernization program, the vessel represents a significant leap in Ankara’s ability to project power across the Mediterranean and beyond. Its emergence also highlights a gap within the European Union, which continues to lack a unified and robust defense framework capable of matching such advancements.

Under Erdoğan’s leadership, Turkey has methodically expanded its naval footprint across the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, and critical maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Otranto, extending its reach into Albanian territorial waters. In this context, the strategic partnership between Ankara and Tirana has become increasingly indispensable—not only for regional security but also for the economic stability of both nations.

Rear Admiral Cem Gürdeniz (Ret.), Director of the Koç University Maritime Forum, has detailed the capabilities of the TCG Anadolu: with a displacement of 28,000 tons and a length of 232 meters, the vessel can carry six F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, along with attack helicopters, transport helicopters, Seahawk general-purpose helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The platform is emblematic of Turkey’s broader effort to integrate advanced military technology with its geopolitical ambitions.

Parallel to these developments, Turkey has deepened its institutional ties with Albania’s defense establishment. On February 27, 2020, the two countries formalized their cooperation through a Defense Cooperation Plan signed in Tirana. The agreement, endorsed by Turkish Military Attaché Colonel Şakir Cumhur Somer and Albanian officials, sought to enhance Ankara’s strategic role in Southeast Europe while supporting Albania’s efforts to modernize its military capabilities, including intelligence training for a new generation of officers.

For Albania, such reforms are not optional. As international relations scholar Enika Abazi has argued, transforming the country’s armed forces requires a comprehensive overhaul of personnel, equipment, and infrastructure to meet contemporary security challenges. Turkey has positioned itself as a central partner in this transformation.

This partnership has also taken material form. In June 2015, Turkey donated 27 armored vehicles to the Albanian Armed Forces, a gesture that underscored both practical cooperation and political alignment. Then–Defense Minister Mimi Kodheli framed the donation as part of a broader modernization effort launched jointly by the two countries, emphasizing that improving Albania’s military logistics remained a top priority.

Diplomatic engagement has reinforced these efforts. In October 2015, Kodheli met with Turkey’s Minister of National Defense Mehmet Vecdi Gönül during the Comprehensive Regional Defense Ministerial in Dubrovnik. There, she praised Turkey’s response to the Syrian refugee crisis, highlighting Ankara’s role in providing shelter to hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals—a move she characterized as a demonstration of exceptional humanism and respect for human dignity.

Earlier that same year, a military cooperation framework signed in Tirana further expanded bilateral coordination. The agreement, concluded between Turkish Defense Attaché Colonel Nizamettin Doğar and Albanian official Igli Hasani, outlined key areas of cooperation, including regional security, joint training programs, and Turkey’s role in modernizing Albania’s armed forces. Notably, it also included the establishment of advanced academic programs in military medicine and trauma treatment.

Turkey’s investment in Albania’s defense sector is not recent. Since 1992, Ankara has trained more than 2,500 Albanian military officers, embedding itself deeply within the country’s defense infrastructure. In 2014 alone, dozens of Albanian officers pursued advanced studies at the Turkish National Defence University and other institutions in Ankara.

Operational cooperation has extended beyond training. In Afghanistan, Albanian Special Operations forces deployed under NATO’s Resolute Support Mission worked alongside Turkish forces, benefiting from logistical support and joint operational planning. Turkey itself maintained a significant presence in Kabul, contributing over 600 soldiers and ranking among the top NATO contributors.

More recently, the diplomatic dimension of this partnership has gained renewed momentum. On January 23, Istanbul hosted the Second Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the Balkans Peace Platform. On the sidelines, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Albania’s Elisa Spiropali, reaffirming the strength of bilateral ties and signaling a continued commitment to strategic dialogue.

At that meeting, Albania indicated its intention to further solidify Turkey’s presence at the Pashaliman Naval Base, a site of considerable historical and strategic importance. Located along the southern coast near Vlora, the base once served as the Soviet Union’s only Mediterranean submarine facility. Since 1998, Turkey has invested heavily in its modernization, transforming it into a key node in its regional maritime strategy.

For some observers, the implications are clear. As Paraguayan naval official Ricardo Javier Sanabria Pereira has noted, Albania must pursue its defense partnership with Turkey with both determination and strategic clarity. Turkey’s growing influence in modern warfare, combined with its expanding presence at Pashaliman, positions it as a guarantor of maritime security and a critical partner in safeguarding Albania’s coastal assets.

In an era marked by renewed Russian assertiveness, a faltering European security architecture, and persistent economic uncertainty, the logic of this partnership becomes difficult to ignore. For Albania—and, by extension, Southeast Europe—the expansion of Turkey’s naval presence in Pashaliman and across the Mediterranean may not simply be advantageous. It may prove essential.