Thewesternbalkans.
On the occasion of the 102nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between Albania and Türkiye, the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Tirana Tayyar Kagan Atay shared his positions concerning relations between two countries in an interview to Marjana Doda, published in Tirana Times.
According to Ambassador Atay, the ties binding Ankara and Tirana are not simply a matter of treaties and state visits—they are the product of centuries of shared history, cultural kinship, and a common vision for the future of the Balkans and beyond.
Common paste.
The main thesis of the Ambassador Atay is that, during the Ottoman period, Albanians rose to some of the highest offices in imperial governance. Approximately 35 Grand Viziers — the equivalent of prime ministers — were of Albanian origin. These figures not only served the Ottoman state but also left behind a legacy of political and cultural interconnectedness that still resonates today.
Ambassador Atay also cites some of the personalities who embody this intertwined legacy. Sami Frashëri—Şemsettin Sami in Turkish—was not only one of Albania’s most important literary figures but also a reformer of the Turkish language, the author of the first Turkish novel, dictionary, and encyclopedia. His son, Ali Sami Yen, founded Galatasaray Football Club, one of Europe’s best-known teams. Mehmet Akif Ersoy, the author of Türkiye’s national anthem, was also of Albanian descent.
In Istanbul, the district of Arnavutköy—literally “the Albanian village”—still carries the name of the Albanian settlers who arrived in the 15th century. In Albania, traces of Ottoman heritage are visible across the landscape: mosques, bridges, castles, and schools from Tirana to Shkodra, from Elbasan to Gjirokastra.
“It is our common responsibility to pass on this legacy, entrusted to us by history, to future generations,” he says, pointing to the restoration work carried out by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) in Albania. From the revitalization of Berat’s Ottoman quarters to the preservation of religious monuments, Türkiye’s involvement reflects a deliberate effort to nurture cultural ties alongside political ones.
The Strategic Partnership.
In 2013, Albania officially designated Türkiye as one of its five strategic partners. This was a recognition of the expanding political, economic, and security agenda binding the two countries.
In January 2021, Prime Minister Edi Rama visited Ankara and signed a Joint Political Declaration with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, elevating relations to the level of an official “Strategic Partnership.” This declaration established a High-Level Cooperation Council, bringing together the two leaders and their ministers to review and guide bilateral cooperation.
Two such meetings have already taken place—one in Ankara and one in Tirana in 2024—covering everything from energy and defence to education and tourism. A third is planned in Ankara during Rama’s upcoming visit. The mechanism has created a framework of regular, institutionalized dialogue that allows the relationship to move beyond ad hoc agreements to long-term planning.
The results have been visible. Türkiye is now Albania’s fourth-largest trading partner, with trade exceeding one billion dollars in 2024 and ambitions to double that figure in the near future. Turkish investments already total some 3.5 billion dollars, spread across sectors as diverse as energy, infrastructure, health care, and tourism. In the first half of 2025 alone, Türkiye ranked as Albania’s largest foreign investor, with 89 million euros in new investments.
Ambassador Atay insists that the essence of this relationship is not only trade and economy. He points to the Memorial Hospital, built with Turkish support; housing projects for earthquake victims; the construction of the Namazgah Mosque in Tirana; and the restoration of Ottoman-era sites.
Security Cooperation and NATO Ties.
Türkiye has been instrumental in supporting the modernization of the Albanian Armed Forces, from providing training and equipment to exploring joint production in the defence industry.
Türkiye is preparing to host the NATO Summit in 2026, followed by Albania in 2027. For Ambassador Atay, these back-to-back summits highlight the trust both countries enjoy within the Alliance and their growing role in shaping its agenda. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Türkiye is the largest non-EU contributor to the EUFOR Althea peacekeeping mission, while also maintaining a strong presence in NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR). Albanian troops are integrated into these missions as well, symbolizing the two countries’ joint commitment to regional security.
Türkiye’s Wider Role in the Balkans
The Albanian–Turkish partnership is part of Türkiye’s wider vision for the Balkans, which Ambassador Atay describes as resting on three pillars: political dialogue, economic integration, and respect for the region’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious fabric.
Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, he notes, remain fragile points. Türkiye was among the first countries to recognize Kosovo in 2008 and continues to support its sovereignty and international recognition. It also plays an active role in the EU-facilitated dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. In Bosnia, Türkiye has sought to act as a bridge between the country’s three communities, engaging in trilateral consultations with Serbia and Croatia.
Such diplomacy, however, is reinforced by hard commitments. Türkiye has recently reassumed command of NATO’s KFOR mission, underscoring its determination to remain a guarantor of regional stability.
A Bridge Between East and West
Ambassador Atay situates all this within Türkiye’s broader foreign policy identity—as a country that connects East and West, North and South. This identity, he argues, gives Ankara a unique capacity to act as a mediator in global conflicts.
Examples abound: the Black Sea Grain Initiative between Russia and Ukraine, prisoner exchanges, mediation efforts in the South Caucasus, dialogue in Somalia and Ethiopia. On Palestine, Türkiye has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of Israeli military actions and a consistent advocate of a two-state solution.
“Türkiye plays a vital role as a mediator and collaborator on the global stage, connecting cultures and interests from East to West and promoting dialogue as the path to peace and prosperity,” Atay says. This mediating role, he adds, is not about neutrality for its own sake but about pursuing constructive engagement even with opposing sides.
Facing the Future Together.
“In this context, as two NATO Allies and EU candidates and truly brotherly countries, Albania and Türkiye have great potential to expand upon their cooperation in the coming decade,” he affirms. “We already share a common vision for a prosperous future in our region and have put our common determination to further consolidate our Strategic Partnership in all areas.”
Comments: Ambassador Atay demonstrated high class and excellent preparation in this interview. We can see Türkiye as a local, regional and global player.
It is no coincidence that he begins with a shared past. The ambassador fully defends the link between the common past of Turkey and the Balkan countries and the development of future relations precisely on this basis. This thesis is at the core of the theory called ‘Strategic Depth’ of the great Turkish philosopher and politician Ahmet Davutoglu – former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister). On the other hand, some refer to this approach of Ankara as ‘Neo-Ottomanism.’
Whatever it is called, Turkey’s policy towards the Balkan countries is well-founded and prepared economically, philosophically, and even emotionally. This Turkish policy is received with great enthusiasm by some countries in the Western Balkans – Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia, as well as the Muslim population in Serbia, Bulgaria, etc.
Marjana Doda is an Albanian journalist, founder and responsible editor of the portal “Argumentum”.
