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Reflection on Albania's resolution on Iran

2026-03-15 13:05:00, Opinione Dr.Arben Ramkaj

It has often been seen in the history of international relations that in major conflicts between great powers, small countries are the ones that face the consequences the most. The current war between the United States of America, Israel, and Iran is a clear example of this dynamic, as beyond the direct clash it also involves broader geopolitical interests and great power rivalries.

In this conflict, we are seeing that some Gulf countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait, which are strategic allies of the US, are among the countries that most directly face the risks and consequences of regional tensions. Some analysis of the trajectory of missiles and drones shows that a large part of them did not fall on Israeli territory, but in other countries in the region.

According to these analyses, about 44 percent of the missiles and drones fell in the United Arab Emirates, about 24 percent in Kuwait, about 18 percent in Bahrain, while only about 14 percent in Israel, the state considered to have initiated this military confrontation. This shows once again that in major regional conflicts it is often partner countries or smaller countries that face the most direct consequences.

History teaches us that in major geopolitical agreements and conflicts, small countries do not always benefit, even when they are on the side of the winning partner. It is in this context that the majority's proposal for a resolution that officially declares Iran an enemy country for modern Albania should be seen.

Such a decision should not be seen only as a political act of the moment, but as an issue that requires balanced analysis in relation to international political developments and Albania's long-term interest. In this context, Albania's positions must be in harmony with the foreign policy of the European Union, with the positions of the countries of the Balkan region, as well as with the strategic alliance of NATO, of which Albania is a part.

In this regard, it should be emphasized that the declaration of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations is in line with the policies and positions of the European Union and with the broader context of Euro-Atlantic security.

However, the blanket declaration of Iran as an enemy state through a resolution, even if we assume that it comes as a request from our greatest strategic partner in these 35 years – the United States of America – should be evaluated carefully.

Albania also has objective reasons used to justify such a stance, such as the cyberattacks attributed to Iran against Albanian institutions, the severance of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and the fact that part of the Iranian opposition is located and operates on Albanian territory.

However, it remains worrying that the argument is often heard: "Who cares about us? Let's make as many resolutions as we want." In reality, the issue is not so simple, because a resolution is a state act and every such act has its own political and diplomatic weight.

It is equally important that positions in such international conflicts are not used for domestic political consumption, especially during election periods or in situations of internal tensions.

In the end, the principle must remain clear: Albania above all and the national interest must always be at the center of every strategic decision.

If the current conflict prolongs and becomes larger, some analysts believe that its consequences could extend not only to the Mediterranean, but also to Central Asia and the Western Balkans, due to the importance of energy corridors and strategic routes connecting the Middle East with Asia and Europe.

Such an escalation could bring deeper geopolitical consequences, such as regional destabilization, the weakening or collapse of some states, and even the creation of new political realities in different regions.

So far we see that the Gulf countries have lost up to $20 billion and, although they face strong tensions with Iran, they have not officially declared it an enemy, understanding the complexity of the situation and the fact that this is not their war.

Therefore, it is important that Albanian politicians, analysts, and thinkers discuss international relations issues with greater depth and responsibility, always in the interest and function of Albania's foreign policy./ CNA