Erdogan visits Tirana bearing gifts

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Tirana on Thursday is perceived as an effort to solidify Turkey's influence in Albania amid regional uncertainties.

The visit coincided with the Turkey-Albania High-Level Cooperation Council, where Erdogan unveiled significant initiatives, including the inauguration of the largest mosque in the Balkans, funded by Turkey, and the gifting of dozens of drones to the armed forces. Erdogan met with Prime Minister Edi Rama, emphasizing the enhancement of bilateral relations in tourism, economy, trade and defense collaboration.

Rama expressed gratitude for the drone donation, asserting that Albania remains resilient in the face of global challenges. He framed this military aid as a clear message about Albania's defense capabilities, highlighting that the gift reflects Turkey's commitment to bolstering Albania's military...