Corridor 8 officially included in NATO’s critical military infrastructure; minister Vengu: Albania, a strategic hub of Euro-Atlantic security

Published: Friday, 13 February 2026 12:16

Corridor 8, starting from Durrës - Porto Romano port complex and extending to the Black Sea, has been officially incorporated into NATO’s military plans and designated as part of the Alliance’s critical military infrastructure. It is now recognized as a security corridor supporting NATO’s collective defence.

The announcement was made by Defence Minister Pirro Vengu following the meeting of NATO Defence Ministers held in Brussels.
This development positions Albania as a strategic node within the Euro-Atlantic security architecture and places the country at the centre of regional plans and infrastructure on which NATO will increasingly focus in the years ahead.

Minister Vengu stated that the inclusion of Corridor 8 is the result of several years of disciplined, clear, and consistent work.
“This is a concrete achievement that places Albania at the heart of all regional plans and at the core of the infrastructure where the Alliance will concentrate its efforts in the coming years,” - Minister Vengu underlined.

The future of ongoing operations was also a key topic of the Ministerial Meeting, including the mission of KFOR in Kosovo, to which Albania contributes. According to the minister:“ Albania will increase its capabilities through the involvement of its Air Force for the first time in this mission. At the same time, in close partnership with the United States of America and U.S. European Command, all necessary reassessments are being conducted regarding the future of the mission. This also presents a valuable opportunity for the newly elected government in Kosovo to further strengthen high-quality and increasingly close cooperation with the Alliance.” - Defence Minister explained.

Another key point of discussion was the increase in defence investments and the restructuring of the military industry among Allied nations.

“Albania has embarked on this path with determination, and every day we are building new capabilities within our defence industry, with several contracts already signed and others currently under negotiation.” - Minister Vengu stated, adding that these developments were welcomed by Allies.

Preparations have also begun for the NATO Summit scheduled to be held in Tirana in 2027, in cooperation with the Turkish side and the Alliance’s Secretariat in Brussels.