Trump to attend NATO summit in Albania

Tirana, December 30, 2024 - Donald Trump, the US president-elect, will visit Tirana in 2027 as part of the NATO summit, Albania’s prime minister has revealed.

Edi Rama made the announcement during a year-end press conference, calling the event “unthinkable” just a few years ago. The summit, set to take place in the Albanian capital, will bring together NATO leaders to discuss the alliance’s future direction.

“Hosting the NATO summit in 2027, with the US president in attendance, reflects a remarkable transformation,” Mr Rama said. “An infrastructure assessment team has already visited Tirana, highlighting progress that would have been impossible without the achievements of this past decade.”

The visit will mark a rare appearance in Albania for a sitting US president, underscoring the country’s growing role in the Western alliance. Since joining NATO in 2009, Albania has steadily positioned itself as a reliable ally, and this summit is expected to showcase its readiness to host major international gatherings.

Mr Rama also pointed to Albania’s improved standing within NATO: “We are now treated as equals, not just formally but with a level of respect we’ve never experienced before.”