New U.S. Ambassador to Albania Eric Wendt has begun his first official meetings in Tirana, marking the start of his diplomatic mission in the country.
Wendt’s first meeting was with Prime Minister Edi Rama, with discussions focusing on strengthening cooperation in defense, expanding trade and investment, and reinforcing efforts against organized crime.
Rama marked the meeting with a brief message on social media, welcoming the new ambassador and writing: “WELCOME”. He added that “a strong partnership is measured by what two nations achieve together.”
The U.S. Embassy provided further details on the meeting, highlighting defense cooperation, economic and investment opportunities, and the fight against organized crime as key areas of discussion.
Later in the day, Ambassador Wendt met with Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, for their first official meeting.
Hoxha described the United States as one of Albania’s closest and most valued strategic partners, emphasizing shared democratic values, the countries’ strong security partnership within NATO, and longstanding ties between the two peoples.
“We look forward to working closely together to further deepen our bilateral relations, including expanding economic and investment opportunities, strengthening cooperation for regional security and stability, and responding to global challenges that require close coordination among allies,” Hoxha said.
The Albanian foreign minister also linked the country’s EU integration process with its transatlantic partnership, describing them as “two sides of the same coin” for Albania’s foreign policy.
Wendt’s arrival comes after a lengthy period without a confirmed U.S. ambassador in Tirana. His mandate is expected to place particular emphasis on security and defense cooperation, economic ties and investment, regional stability, and cooperation against organized crime.
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