Albania and the New Jersey National Guard celebrate 25 years of partnership, Nufi: Close cooperation with the U.S strengthens Armed Forces modernisation

Albania and the New Jersey National Guard celebrate 25 years of partnership, Nufi: Close cooperation with the U.S strengthens Armed Forces modernisation

The Albanian Armed Forces and the New Jersey National Guard marked the 25th anniversary of their enduring partnership under the State Partnership Program.

To mark the occasion, Albania hosted a United States delegation led by Brigadier General Yvonne Mays, Adjutant General of the New Jersey National Guard.

The commemorative ceremony, held at the Land Force Garrison in Zall Herr, was attended by the President of the Republic Bajram Begaj, Defence Minister Ermal Nufi, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Arben Kingji, Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy Nancy VanHorn, Brigadier General Yvonne Mays, and senior military officials.

In his keynote remarks, Defence Minister Ermal Nufi reaffirmed Albania's strong commitment to its strategic partnership with the United States of America, describing it as a cornerstone of the country's foreign and security policy.

Minister Nufi expressed appreciation for the consistent support provided by the United States, noting its direct contribution to the transformation and modernisation of the Albanian Armed Forces, as well as to the strengthening of Albania's role within NATO.

According to Minister Nufi, the 25-year partnership represents not only sustained cooperation, but also a lasting relationship built on mutual trust, friendship, and shared democratic values.

"Throughout these years, we have worked side by side to build sustainable and effective capabilities, from strengthening the non-commissioned officer corps, now one of the most important pillars of our Armed Forces, to the education and development of young officers; from cooperation in military medicine and civil emergency response, to joint experience in international missions, including Afghanistan, as well as the advancement of new capabilities in areas such as cyber defence. These achievements have directly contributed to increasing the professionalism, readiness, interoperability, and modernisation of our Armed Forces." Minister Nufi stated.

Addressing the evolving security environment, Minister Nufi underlined the importance of further expanding cooperation, particularly in cyber defence.

"Cyber defence remains among Albania's highest security priorities. Faced with persistent threats in this domain, the support and expertise of the United States are essential to strengthening our resilience and safeguarding our institutions. At the same time, continued investment in the non-commissioned officer corps remains fundamental for developing future leadership and reinforcing our military structure. We have also made important progress with the Light Infantry Battalion Group, which is currently preparing for NATO readiness evaluation. In this regard, joint exercises and enhanced interoperability remain vital," he noted.

Referring to Albania's defence commitments within NATO, Minister Nufi emphasised that Albania remains fully dedicated to meeting its obligations as an Ally.

"Within NATO, Albania is fully aware of its responsibilities. We support fair burden-sharing and, starting from 2026, Albania will also contribute financially to selected partnership activities, reflecting the maturity of this cooperation," he stated.

The ceremony reaffirmed that the State Partnership Program will continue to serve as an important framework for strengthening long-term cooperation between Albania and the United States in support of regional and collective security.

At the end of the event, participants visited a static exhibition of equipment and assets of the Albanian Armed Forces.