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 2022.

TPNW Status

SIGNATURE
DEPOSIT WITH UNSG
ENTRY INTO FORCE
DECLARATION
TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compatibility in 2022
(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 Not 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 (2022)
Participated in 1MSP (2022) 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
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.

At the Tenth Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in August 2022, Albania said: ‘We remain committed to the long-term goal of a world without nuclear weapons, believing that in the current security context, a step-by-step approach to global nuclear disarmament is the right path to build trust and confidence.’... We all know that a nuclear war cannot be won, so it should never be fought. This is why we are deeply worried by the nuclear sabre-rattling on the possible use of nuclear weapons. They should be condemned, in the strongest terms. We must not allow those who want to push the world backwards.’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