Media statement by Lt. Gen. Arben Kingji, Chief of the General Staff of the Albanian Armed Forces

Published: Wednesday, 17 September 2025 21:43

Media statement by Lt. Gen. Arben Kingji, Chief of the General Staff of the Albanian Armed Forces, at the 28th Conference of Chiefs of Defense of the U.S.–Adriatic Charter (A-5), held in Tirana.

It is an honor and a pleasure that today, together with the Chief of the General Staff of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lt. Gen. Gojko Knežević, as well as the Commander of the U.S. European Command, Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich, we welcome and co-chair the 28th Conference of Chiefs of Defense of the U.S.–Adriatic Charter, also known as the A-5 Initiative.

Over its 22-year journey, this initiative has gradually expanded, strengthening year by year through dialogue, cooperation, joint exercises, and contributions to international missions in the service of peace. Beyond supporting and achieving progress in Euro-Atlantic integration, this initiative has contributed to the development of member countries’ defense capacities, increased regional stability, and strengthened the Alliance’s collective defense.

Developed under the theme “A-5 for Stability and Cooperation: Building a Safe Environment Through Civil-Military Synergy and Regional Dialogue,” the conference reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to this Charter and also the role of the initiative in strengthening regional cooperation, advancing Euro-Atlantic integration, and deepening mutual trust among member and observer countries.

During this conference, discussions focused on the dynamics and instability of the regional and global security environment, characterized by complex transnational challenges, hybrid threats, and the need to strengthen national and regional resilience, so that today’s challenges do not become tomorrow’s threats. It was emphasized that close cooperation, mutual support, and strong civil-military partnerships are essential steps in the right direction to contribute to regional stability and prosperity and to address shared security concerns in Southeast Europe.

The conference discussed achievements made possible through the synergy and cooperation of civilian institutions and armed forces, citing as concrete examples the response to the 2019 earthquake, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other cases in which armed forces personnel have worked side by side with other institutional personnel to address various civil emergencies. This cooperation, in addition to enabling effective responses to challenges we have faced, has contributed to increasing interoperability not only within the armed forces but also in their interaction with other involved institutions and, furthermore, in building connection and trust with the civilian population. To improve the effectiveness of this civil-military cooperation, we identified during this conference some of the challenges accompanying this process and recommendations to address them.

The role of the U.S.–Adriatic Charter Initiative as a platform for harmonizing standards, exchanging lessons learned, improving responsiveness, and contributing to the further expansion of the initiative and promoting the Euro-Atlantic integration of aspiring Western Balkan countries was also highlighted. In this regard, as in previous years, I reaffirmed the open-door policy of this initiative and the now-deserved and long-awaited membership of Kosovo, as a vital contribution to regional stability and a commitment to collective defense.

Kosovo’s membership in this initiative will further advance its success, which would not have been possible without the continued support and attention of the United States of America, which is the cornerstone that keeps us connected and at the same time the foundation upon which we will build our efforts to promote regional stability and cooperation.

On this occasion, I would like to thank Gen. Grynkewich for his leadership and personal commitment in making today’s conference a success.

I am convinced that this conference and his first visit to the Western Balkans, in his capacity as Commander of the U.S. European Command, has served Gen. Grynkewich as a valuable opportunity to observe firsthand the Euro-Atlantic and pro-Western approach of the countries participating in this initiative and, at the same time, to become familiar with the main developments in the Albanian Armed Forces, their contributions to collective defense, Alliance-led operations and missions, and the opportunities offered by our country in support of NATO Regional Plans.

I also wish to express my gratitude to the Chief of the General Staff of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lt. Gen. Gojko Knežević, and his team, for their cooperation in organizing and co-chairing this conference.

As always, the presence of observer countries adds great value to the conferences of this initiative, and I thank them for their commitment and constructive discussions aimed at identifying opportunities for further developing regional military cooperation in the service of peace, security, and prosperity in the region and beyond.

At the same time, I wish to express my gratitude to the representatives of the U.S. National Guards for their participation and commitment to this conference, as well as for the indispensable role they have played over the years in supporting this initiative.

In conclusion, I would like to thank Minister of Defense Pirro Vengu for honoring us with his participation in this conference, the Government of the Republic of Albania for its unwavering support to the Armed Forces, and the personnel engaged in organizing and ensuring the smooth running of this conference.

Thank you.