Albania hosted the South East Defence Ministerial (SEDM) today, gathering top officials from Europe and beyond to strengthen regional security and defense cooperation.
Defense ministers from Albania, North Macedonia, Turkey, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, and representatives from Italy, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and the United States attended the summit. The event focused on enhancing collaboration to address evolving security challenges, from traditional military threats to hybrid risks.
In his opening remarks, Albania’s Defence Minister Pirro Vengu emphasized the need for unity in today’s complex geopolitical environment. “We stand together to face growing risks, from conventional threats to modern hybrid warfare,” Vengu said, stressing the importance of regional cooperation.
Vengu also highlighted Albania’s role as a hub for regional defense efforts. “Our commitment to NATO and the EU’s agendas is stronger than ever,” he added, reaffirming Albania’s dedication to collective defense and international stability.
The SEDM summit, which returned to Tirana after 28 years, gave participants a chance to reaffirm shared goals: advancing defense capabilities, fostering regional stability, and facilitating integration into Euro-Atlantic structures.
