The long-running maritime dispute between Albania and Greece has once again moved to the center of national debate after former Albanian Navy Commander Artur Meçollari issued strong warnings over the government’s handling of the case ahead of a potential process at the International Court of Justice.
In a public reaction published on social media, Meçollari claimed that the process surrounding the maritime border issue carries significant strategic risks for Albania. According to him, despite its role as the world’s highest judicial body for disputes between states, the Hague court often reflects broader geopolitical balances and international power dynamics. He referenced the historic Corfu Channel Case, the first and only case involving Albania before the ICJ, in which the court found Albania internationally responsible in 1949.
Meçollari also recalled the landmark 2010 ruling by the Constitutional Court of Albania, which struck down the 2009 maritime agreement between Albania and Greece, ruling that parts of the deal conflicted with constitutional and national interest standards. The decision at the time was widely viewed as a major legal victory for Albania’s maritime sovereignty.
According to Meçollari, recent political developments suggest that Greece, under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is seeking to reopen key elements of the negotiations conducted in 2018. He specifically raised concerns over two issues: Albania’s straight baseline in maritime delimitation, which he claims was recognized during previous negotiations, and the interpretation of the Florence Protocol of 1925, which he says was included in draft discussions despite unresolved legal questions.
The former naval commander further accused the Albanian government, led by Prime Minister Edi Rama, of indirectly assisting Athens in advancing positions that could undermine Albania’s long-term national interests. He also criticized former Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha, alleging that his role in previous maritime negotiations raises concerns about Albania’s diplomatic strategy.
The Albania-Greece maritime dispute remains one of the most sensitive unresolved geopolitical issues in the region, carrying implications for sovereignty, maritime rights, and regional diplomacy in the Ionian Sea.