Skip to main content
Opposed

Albania

Umbrella state (NATO)

Albania boycotted the TPNW negotiations in 2017 and has consistently voted against the annual UN General Assembly resolutions on the TPNW, including in 2023.

TPNW Status

SIGNATURE
DEPOSIT WITH UNSG
ENTRY INTO FORCE
DECLARATION
TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compatibility in 2023
(a) Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire Compatible
Test Compatible
Possess or stockpile Compatible
(b) Transfer Compatible
(c) Receive transfer or control Compatible
(d) Use Compatible
Threaten to use Compatible
(e) Assist, encourage or induce Non-compatible
(f) Seek or receive assistance Compatible
(g) Allow stationing, installation, deployment Compatible
TPNW voting and participation
UNGA resolution on TPNW (latest vote) Voted no (2023)
Participated in 2MSP (2023) No
1MSP delegation size (% women) N/A
Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) N/A
Participated in TPNW negotiations (2017) No
Negotiation mandate (A/RES/71/258) Voted yes
Other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) treaties
Party to an NWFZ No
Party to the NPT Yes (Acceded 1990)
Ratified the CTBT Yes (Ratified 2003)
Party to the BWC Yes (Acceded 1992)
Party to the CWC Yes (Ratified 1994)
IAEA safeguards and fissile material
Safeguards agreement Yes (25 Mar 1988)
TPNW Art 3(2) deadline N/A
Small Quantities Protocol No
Additional Protocol Yes
Enrichment facilities/reprocessing plants No
HEU stocks No
Plutonium stocks No

Latest developments

Albania may sign and ratify or accede to the TPNW, but will have to make changes to its policies and practices to become compliant.

In the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in October 2023, Albania expressed regret that ‘the international security architecture is being challenged by conflicts, cyber-attacks and nuclear threats’. ‘The NPT has an essential role in the maintenance of international peace and security,’ it added.1

An opinion poll commissioned by Pathways To Peace and published in March 2022 found that 98% of Albanians want their country to join the TPNW, with 90% believing that Albania should be among the first NATO members to do so.2

The former Albanian president Rexhep Meidani and former prime ministers Ylli Bufi and Fatos Nano were among the signatories to an open letter in September 2020 calling on current leaders in umbrella states to 'show courage and boldness' and join the TPNW.4

Recommendations

  • Albania should renounce the possession and potential use of nuclear weapons on its behalf, and ensure that nuclear weapons do not have a role in its defence posture.

  • Albania should comply with its existing obligation under Article VI of the NPT and pursue negotiations in good faith on nuclear disarmament.

  • Albania should urgently adhere to the TPNW. Until it is in a position to do so, it should welcome the TPNW as a valuable component in the global disarmament and non-proliferation architecture, work with the Treaty's states parties on practical steps towards disarmament, and attend the meetings of states parties as an observer.

Can you help us update this state profile? Send e-mail
Did you find this interesting?
Print state profile