Albania: Student protests and defense modernization

Albania is facing significant domestic unrest as students move protests to the front of the Parliament building in Tirana. The Assembly is scheduled to resume plenary sessions following a previous cancellation by Speaker Niko Peleshi. To manage the situation, police have begun installing metal barriers to restrict protester access to parliamentary premises. The session includes several urgent interpellations involving ministers of Internal Affairs, Infrastructure, Energy, and Finance.

Parallel to these domestic tensions, Albania continues to modernize its military capabilities through international partnerships. The country has integrated Turkish defense technology, including Bayraktar TB2 drones and MKE artillery, into its armed forces. Additionally, Albania has deepened defense cooperation with Israel; the state-owned company KAYO signed a memorandum with Elbit Systems to develop local defense production, including tactical drones and automated howitzers.

Amidst the protests, concerns have been raised regarding the use of police force and the targeting of religious institutions, including incidents at the Apostolic Nunciature and an Orthodox Cathedral. Meanwhile, rumors regarding the arrival of Israeli acoustic devices at the airport were clarified by officials as Turkish water cannons intended for crowd control.