Albanian Armed Forces launch Cyber and Liason Command; Minister Vengu: "A historic step"

Published: Monday, 02 June 2025 19:04

In a solemn ceremony, the Cyber and Liason Command of the Albanian Armed Forces was officially established. From this moment on, it will operate as a distinct structural unit within the Armed Forces, aligned with contemporary security developments and the country's strategic needs.

Present at the ceremony were the Defence Minister, Mr. Pirro Vengu; the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Arben Kingji; U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Albania, Ms. Nancy VanHorn, Major General John Phillips, senior representatives of the Albanian Armed Forces, accredited military attachés, and other distinguished guests.

In his address, Defence Minister Vengu described the creation of the Cyber and Liason Command as a historic step toward modernizing military structures and strengthening national security in an increasingly digital environment:

“The cyberattacks against Albania in 2022 served as a powerful reminder that, in today’s digital world, defending cyberspace is just as vital as protecting our territorial integrity.
These developments, supported by NATO’s broader experiences—made the establishment of this command both necessary and natural.
It’s not only about improving interaction between operational units engaged in cybersecurity and digital communications; it’s also about forging stronger cooperation between the military and civilian sectors, which is perhaps the key to success in this domain.”

He emphasized that the command’s creation reflects Albania’s ongoing commitment to modernizing its cybersecurity infrastructure and highlights the country’s growing role in the regional and NATO cyber defence architecture.

Minister Vengu also noted that this development follows a series of steps taken over the past five years, carried out with the guidance, support, and training of Albania’s strategic partner, the United States:

“Elevating our efforts to the command level will significantly enhance operational efficiency, cybersecurity capabilities, and secure communication.”

Major General John Phillips, Director of the Cyber Directorate at U.S. European Command, praised Albania as a trusted and dedicated NATO ally:

“Albania has shown unwavering commitment as a valuable NATO partner, and the creation of this command marks a meaningful step in strengthening our collective cyber defence architecture.”

Lieutenant General Arben Kingji, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, stated:

“Establishing the Cyber and Liason Command is part of a broader structural improvement of the Armed Forces to more effectively address the evolving security environment.
In today’s operational landscape, adversaries are increasingly invisible, exploiting every opportunity technology offers to infiltrate communication systems, damage critical infrastructure, spread disinformation, and trigger conflict, often without firing a single shot.”

Brigadier General Hamdi Doda, the newly appointed Commander of the Cyber and Communications Command, affirmed his commitment to building a modern and effective structure that will ensure security and interoperability across all levels of command and control.

The ceremony concluded with a symbolic moment as Lieutenant General Kingji handed over the flag of the new command to Brigadier General Doda, officially marking the beginning of operations for this new military unit within the Albanian Armed Forces.