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Rama to Politico: We accept that the US will launch military operations from Albania, but on one condition...

2026-04-24 11:59:08Politikë SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Rama to Politico: We accept that the US will launch military operations from
Edi Rama

The European Union is making a serious mistake by not engaging directly with the Russian leadership to end the war in Ukraine, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama told POLITICO.

“I can say that Europe has made a big strategic mistake by cutting off every channel with Russia,” he said in an interview at the Delphi Economic Forum in Greece. “Europe must always, always, always be in communication with everyone,” he added.

These statements contradict the approach of senior EU officials, such as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU chief diplomat Kaia Kallas, who have avoided direct contacts with Russian leaders, including President Vladimir Putin, arguing that such talks are meaningless if Moscow is determined to continue the war.

But for Rama, whose country aims to join the EU in the coming years, Europe is placing itself on the periphery of any future peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia by avoiding direct engagement with Moscow.

"The more we postpone (the talks with Russia), the less we will have a say in the end, because Russia, no matter how this war ends, will not disappear," he said, adding that his country has no ties to Russia.

"We have no kind of dependence on Russia, no investments, no Russian gas and nothing Russian, so I can say that."

"Kushner Island"

The comments by Rama, a former professional basketball player who combines politics with artistic creativity, come at a time when EU leaders are gathering in Nicosia, Cyprus, to discuss further support for Ukraine, as well as the energy crisis the bloc is facing due to the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

During his 13 years in power, Rama has positioned Albania as strongly pro-EU, while simultaneously maintaining relations with the United States and President Donald Trump, whose war objectives against Iran Rama has publicly praised.

“It is not for us (Albania) to decide how to treat Iran on the global stage, but it is our duty to support every effort to weaken and perhaps overthrow that regime,” the Albanian prime minister said, adding that he would allow the US military to conduct operations from Albania on condition that Washington provide “air defense, which we do not have in the country.”

Rama's good relations with Washington include ongoing negotiations between his government and a company owned by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, over the possible sale of the island of Sazan off the Albanian coast.

Kushner, through his company Affinity Partners, is negotiating to buy the uninhabited 5-square-kilometer island in the Adriatic for $1.4 billion, with the aim of transforming it into a luxury eco-friendly resort with elite villas, marinas and bunkers for wealthy visitors.

The plans have sparked strong reactions from environmental groups, with 41 organizations writing to Rama and the environment minister in January to demand the immediate cessation of negotiations, arguing that the plans are in “direct contradiction” with Albania’s obligations in the EU accession process.

Asked about these plans, Rama expressed frustration: "It is unbelievable that even major media outlets, with world reputations, are talking about an island that has been sold to Jared Kushner. It is not true. I don't know how to stop this, because we have not made an agreement with Jared Kushner. We are in negotiations."

Talks for the sale began before Trump's second term, Rama added, at a time when "it was not clear whether he would be in the White House or in prison." However, this agreement should not hinder Albania's aspirations for EU membership, where, together with Montenegro, "we are at the top," Rama said.

On the contrary, "I hope the agreement will be realized, because if their investment is realized, it will be a beautiful gift for Europe," he said, adding that it is about "beauty and sustainable development."

An EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the European Commission is aware of the plan and had no immediate comment on its impact on Albania's accession process.

"Serious artist"

Rama, who described himself as a "serious artist" and, standing 1.98 meters tall, was a professional basketball player before entering politics, is known for his distinctive style.

After expressing admiration for POLITICO's artificial intelligence transcription tool ("Why don't I have this too?"), Rama spent the first 10 minutes of the interview showing images of sculptures he had created partly by hand and partly with AI, which he will exhibit in an upcoming exhibition in Berlin.

Albania attracted attention by introducing the world's first "AI minister," named Diella, although the actress on whose face Diella is based has announced that she will take the government to court for using her image.

Rama did not hesitate: "We are preparing him to appear in live interviews" as well as in "government meetings," he said.

The AI ​​minister is part of a modernization initiative in Albania, which aims to complete EU membership negotiations by the end of 2027 and become a full member by 2030. Rama describes EU enlargement as a process of “unification” of Europe, rather than the expansion of a bureaucratic union.

After a meeting in Delphi with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, whose support is necessary for Albania's membership, Rama said: "I have never seen (EU leaders) so convinced of the need for European unification."

However, Rama insists that Albania should have the freedom to make its own foreign policy choices, including a “sympathetic” stance toward the Trump administration. This has not prevented him from being “100 percent aligned with Europe” on strategic objectives.

Asked whether Albania would have to choose sides if it becomes an EU member, Rama concluded: "It's like humans and artificial intelligence. In art, you have to accept both, to achieve the best result."


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