VIDEO / New U.S. Ambassador Eric Wendt officially begins duties in Tirana

The new United States Ambassador to Albania, Eric Wendt, officially began his diplomatic mission in our country this Saturday.

Within less than 24 hours of arriving in Tirana, Wendt presented his credentials to the President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj, and also held a one-on-one meeting with the head of state at the Brigades Palace.

The new American ambassador arrives in Albania with a distinguished profile in the field of defense and security.

He has more than 34 years of service in the U.S. military, most of his career in the “Green Berets” Special Forces. Wendt has also held important positions in NATO special operations structures. He made the priorities of his mandate in Albania clear as early as his May 20 hearing before the U.S. Senate.

At the top of his focus, he listed the fight against corruption, organized crime and drug trafficking, as well as strengthening cooperation in the field of defense and cybersecurity. The new American ambassador also paid special attention to SPAK.

Wendt expressed his support for the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime, praising its cooperation with U.S. law enforcement agencies. According to Wendt, SPAK’s work remains essential in the fight against corruption and organized crime, as long as the institution preserves its independence and remains protected from political influence.

On the agenda for the first days of the mandate are also meetings with the leaders of Albanian institutions.

On Wednesday, Ambassador Eric Wendt is expected to hold his first meeting with the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha.

Meanwhile, on Friday, October 2, the U.S. Embassy in Tirana will organize the official ceremony presenting the new ambassador.

With long experience in the field of security and defense, Wendt begins his mandate in Tirana at a time when the focus of Albanian-American relations remains the strengthening of the strategic partnership, the rule of law and the fight against corruption and organized crime.