ISRAEL, A FRIEND OF THE ALBANIAN PEOPLE – ALBANIA MUST VALUE ITS FRIENDS AND STRENGTHEN ITS STRATEGIC ALLIANCES By Flamur Buçpapaj

ISRAEL, A FRIEND OF THE ALBANIAN PEOPLE – ALBANIA MUST VALUE ITS FRIENDS AND STRENGTHEN ITS STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
By Flamur Buçpapaj
Albanians must learn to value their friends on the basis of facts, concrete actions, and national interest, rather than slogans, propaganda, or emotions arising from conflicts involving others. In this context, Israel deserves special appreciation from the Albanian nation because it was among the states that recognized the Republic of Kosovo and established diplomatic relations with it. Israel’s recognition of Kosovo in 2020 was an important development for Kosovo and for Albanian diplomacy, and this fact should not be forgotten. Kosovo is a national issue for Albanians, and every state that has recognized its independence should be appreciated accordingly.
This is a reality that we must approach calmly and rationally. Albanians do not need to agree with every policy of another state in order to appreciate a concrete decision made in support of Kosovo. Israel recognized Kosovo, and this is an important point in our relations. At the same time, we need a foreign policy that seeks reciprocity. It is a fact that Palestine has not yet recognized Kosovo, and this issue has also been raised by Albanian institutions in official communications with Palestinian representatives. This should not become hostility toward the Palestinian people or Muslims, because Albanians should not judge peoples on the basis of religion. But Albania has every right to expect its partners and friends to respect the issue of Kosovo as well.
We can support the rights of the Palestinian people, call for peace and a political solution in the Middle East, and at the same time demand recognition of Kosovo from states that have not yet done so. There is no contradiction in this; it is responsible diplomacy and the defense of Albanian national interests.
Israel and the Albanians have different histories, but there are also human experiences that allow us to understand one another better: the memory of persecution, displacement, killings, and the struggle to survive as a people. During the 1998–1999 Kosovo War, the Albanians of Kosovo faced a severe campaign of repression and expulsion. Documents of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia documented the forced expulsion of approximately 800,000 Kosovo Albanians, as well as killings, persecution, deportations, and other crimes against Albanian civilians. Mass graves, missing persons, murdered families, massacres, and mass displacement remain part of Kosovo’s memory and of the painful history of the Albanian nation.
Therefore, Albanians understand what it means to fight for the existence, identity, and security of a nation. This does not mean that we should compare the tragedies of different peoples or use them against one another. On the contrary, the lesson must be that no people should ever again experience expulsions, ethnic cleansing, the killing of civilians, or the destruction of families. For this very reason, Albanian-Israeli relations should be built on mutual respect, national interest, and concrete cooperation.
Albania is a small country and should learn from states that have managed to survive and become stronger. Israel is an important example of how a country with relatively limited territory and population can build powerful capabilities in defense, technology, intelligence, cybersecurity, agriculture, water management, and innovation. Albania should not copy Israel, but it should learn from its experience. A small state cannot rely solely on population size or territory; it must rely on knowledge, technology, organization, economic strength, a modern military, and strategic alliances.
This is precisely where Albania must focus. Increased defense spending should be accompanied by investment in technology and the transfer of knowledge. We should build Albanian capabilities in drones, counter-drone systems, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, secure communications, protection of critical infrastructure, border control, and modern defense technologies. We should not remain merely buyers of foreign technology; we must gradually develop our own national capabilities.
Within this strategy, friendship with the United States must remain the central priority of Albania’s foreign and security policy. The United States is our strategic ally, while NATO is the main pillar of our security. Relations with Israel should be strengthened as part of this broader network of strategic partnerships. Albania should seek investments, technology, training, military cooperation, economic development, and opportunities for Albanian companies through these relationships.
We must also be aware of the geopolitical reality of our region. Serbia continues to refuse to recognize Kosovo, while Russia and China support Serbia’s position on the Kosovo issue. For this reason, Albania must be strong diplomatically and maintain reliable alliances. We should not create hostility toward Slavic peoples as such, because peoples should not be judged collectively; however, we must realistically analyze the policies of states and positions that undermine Kosovo and Albanian interests.
Likewise, we must not fall victim to slogans against Israel or to anyone else’s propaganda. We can have different views about the policies of foreign governments while defending Albanian national interests. Albania should maintain good relations with Arab countries, Muslim-majority countries, Israel, the United States, and Europe, but these relationships must be built on respect and reciprocity. Friendship does not mean remaining silent about your national interests; true friendship means being respected and heard by your partner.
Albanians should appreciate Israel for recognizing Kosovo, just as they should appreciate the United States for its decisive role in Kosovo’s security and liberation and for its strategic partnership with Albania. We must not forget these positions and these historic moments. But we must also turn our relationships into concrete results for Albania.
A small nation cannot survive by always waiting for others. It must build its own economic, military, technological, and diplomatic strength. Albania should be a small country in size, but great in vision, knowledge, alliances, and its ability to defend its own interests.
Therefore, relations with Israel and the United States should be a strategic priority for Albania. We should seek more investment, more technology, greater defense cooperation, stronger education, more scientific research, and more modern industry. We must build a modern military and an economy capable of producing both security and prosperity.
True friends must be recognized and valued. Israel recognized Kosovo. The United States stood beside the Albanians during the most difficult moments of Kosovo’s history. NATO guarantees our security. Now it is Albania’s responsibility to become stronger and to know how to use these alliances in the interests of the country and the Albanian nation.
A small nation does not survive by isolating itself or by following slogans. It survives by being united, organized, educated, technologically advanced, economically strong, and by choosing its friends wisely.
Albania must value Israel for recognizing Kosovo, strengthen its alliance with the United States, defend Albanian national interests, and build a state capable of protecting itself and Kosovo through diplomacy, economic strength, technology, and power.
By Flamur Buçpapaj