Relationship dossier
Turkey
Albania
Relationship assessment
Close strategic and defense partnership, alongside disputes over Turkey’s requests concerning the Gülen movement.
Turkey toward Albania
+60Turkey has provided substantial assistance to Albania, including support after the 2019 earthquake, and has contributed to Albanian military infrastructure and defense cooperation. The two governments have also developed strategic coordination. Ankara’s requests for action against people and institutions it associates with the Gülen movement have been a source of friction.
Albania toward Turkey
+55Albania has pursued defense cooperation and procurement with Turkey, including acquiring Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones. The Albanian government has also taken some action concerning institutions Ankara associates with the Gülen movement, although the scope and consistency of that response are unclear.
Overall relationship
+60The relationship is underpinned by sustained strategic coordination, defense cooperation, and Turkish support for Albanian recovery and infrastructure. These substantive ties coexist with disagreement over Ankara’s requests concerning the Gülen movement; this issue has not displaced the broader cooperative relationship.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Turkey and Albania maintain a close partnership spanning defense, strategic coordination, and Turkish assistance with Albanian infrastructure and disaster recovery. Turkey supported Albania after the 2019 earthquake and contributed to military cooperation, including the modernization of Kuçova air base. Albania has pursued defense procurement and cooperation with Turkey. Relations have also included friction over Ankara’s demands concerning people and institutions it associates with the Gülen movement.
Areas of tension
- Turkey’s requests for Albanian action against people and institutions it associates with the Gülen movement.
Key developments
Turkey provided assistance to Albania following the major earthquake.
A Turkish-built hospital opened in Fier as part of bilateral cooperation.
Albania acquired Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey.
The renovated Kuçova air base opened with Turkish support for Albanian military infrastructure.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of the countries’ strategic and defense cooperation agreements are unclear.
- The extent of continuing Albanian government action in response to Turkey’s requests concerning the Gülen movement is uncertain.