On January 3, 2026, the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong statement supporting the United States’ decisive actions against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was reportedly captured during a U.S. operation in Caracas. In a post on the social network X, Albanian Foreign Minister Elisa Spiropali framed Albania as a steadfast ally of the U.S. and NATO, emphasizing that the country stands “shoulder to shoulder with American leadership in defense of democratic principles and global security” in confronting what she described as a “narco‑terrorist regime.” She also praised U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his leadership in combating authoritarianism, corruption, and transnational criminal networks.
 |
| Trump arrests Edi Rama, photo generated with AI |
1. Albania’s Support for U.S. Actions in Venezuela
Minister Spiropali stated explicitly:
“Albania stands without hesitation beside the United States and the U.S. President in their decisive actions against the narco‑terrorist regime of Venezuela… We support the strong leadership of Secretary Rubio in confronting authoritarianism, corruption, and transnational criminal networks.”
By making this statement, Albania publicly endorsed aggressive U.S. foreign policy, reflecting the country’s desire to maintain a close alliance with Washington and NATO, despite its small size and limited global influence.
2. Historical Patterns of Albania Aligning with Powerful States
Communist Era: Soviet and Chinese Influence
Under Enver Hoxha, Albania initially aligned with the Soviet Union, receiving economic and military support. Following ideological disputes in the early 1960s, Hoxha broke with Moscow and turned to Communist China, which supplied economic aid until the late 1970s. This demonstrates Albania’s historic tendency to follow powerful allies, often prioritizing survival and political legitimacy over independence.
Post-1990 Democratic Era: Western and Regional Alignment
After the fall of communism in 1991, Albania shifted toward the West, aspiring to NATO and EU integration. Albania also navigated regional pressures from neighboring Greece and Serbia, at times contributing to internal instability, such as the 1997 civil unrest, which weakened Albania’s domestic structures and limited its ability to respond independently to regional crises.
3. Domestic Governance Issues Under Edi Rama
Albania under Prime Minister Edi Rama faces significant governance challenges:
- Corruption: Over 70% of his ministers and deputy prime ministers have been investigated or arrested for corruption.
- Rule of law: Albania ranks near the bottom in Europe for judicial independence and freedom standards.
- Emigration: Thousands of young Albanians leave the country every year due to lack of opportunities.
4. Edi Rama Publicly Mocking Donald Trump
Rama has publicly criticized and mocked Donald Trump, demonstrating a rare example of a small-state leader openly commenting on a major power leader:
The Azerbaijan-Albania Mix-up:
- During the 7th European Political Community Summit, Trump mistakenly claimed he had ended a conflict “between Azerbaijan and Albania” instead of Azerbaijan and Armenia. Rama publicly joked with French President Emmanuel Macron:
- “You must apologize… because you did not congratulate us when the peace deal was signed, and President Trump worked very hard for this agreement!”
- Rama emphasized the irony: “He worked very hard. We had 500 years in conflict!”
- This incident was widely circulated in international media, showcasing Rama’s ironical public criticism of Trump.
- In interviews and speeches during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, Rama described a potential Trump presidency as a “disaster for the United States and the world”, echoing concerns about Trump’s unconventional approach to foreign policy.
These incidents underline a rare boldness in Albania’s small-state diplomacy, but they also situate Rama in a context where U.S. rhetoric from figures like Trump and Rubio warns leaders not to openly mock or challenge U.S. authority.
5. Could Edi Rama Be “Next”? Speculative Context
While there is no evidence that Albania or Rama faces direct U.S. action, these dynamics raise questions:
- Albania is heavily dependent on U.S. support for security and NATO credibility.
- Rama has publicly mocked Trump while the country faces institutional weaknesses and corruption.
- Historical patterns show Albania’s leaders often align with powerful states to secure domestic and international legitimacy.
Thus, while the idea of Rama being “next” is speculative, it fits into a broader narrative of how small states navigate relationships with great powers.
Conclusion
Albania’s support for U.S. actions in Venezuela continues a long-standing pattern: aligning with major powers for strategic and political reasons, from Soviet and Chinese alliances under Hoxha to Western integration in the post-communist era.
At the same time, domestic governance challenges — corruption, emigration, and weak institutions — combined with Rama’s public mockery of Trump, create a context where Albania’s alignment with Washington is both necessary for survival and potentially precarious in international perception.
Albania’s history demonstrates that while small states often publicly support great powers, this alignment rarely guarantees protection from scrutiny or geopolitical pressures, especially for leaders like Rama who have openly criticized major allies.