Gallery contains 2 images
×
Photo 1 of 2
U.S. Adriatic Charter Military Leaders Discuss Regional Security -
Photo by: U.S. Embassy Tirana
Photo 2 of 2
U.S Adriatic Charter Military Leaders discuss regional security
Photo by: U.S. Embassy Tirana
TIRANA, Albania – U.S. Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, commander of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, co-chaired the 2025 U.S.-Adriatic Charter (A5) Chiefs of Defense Conference alongside Lt. Gen. Arben Kingji, chief of the Albanian Armed Forces General Staff, and Lt. Gen. Gojko Knezevic, Chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Tirana, Albania, Sept. 16-18, 2025.
The event included Chiefs of Defense from the Adriatic Charter nations of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, along with observer nations.
Regularly hosted by Allies and partners throughout Europe, Chiefs of Defense conferences are a key component of USEUCOM’s comprehensive approach to regional security. Through continuous engagement, USEUCOM and its Allies and partners foster enduring relationships and strengthen cooperation among nations.
In comments at the event, Grynkewich expressed optimism for the regional commitment to defense burden sharing, cooperation and stability.
“As our nations each increase defense spending and make great steps in military modernization, we have to work together to ensure the investment turns into real capability,” Grynkewich said. “This requires sustained focus on enhancing interoperability, building readiness, and developing support arrangements. After listening to all the positive conversations today, I’m confident we can attain these goals.”
During the conference, military leaders from the Adriatic Charter nations and observer states discussed stability and cooperation through civil-military synergy and regional dialogue in the western Balkans and reaffirmed their commitment to regional cooperation.
“In addition to supporting and achieving the Euro-Atlantic integration process, this initiative has contributed to the development of member countries’ defense capabilities, increasing regional stability, and strengthening the Alliance’s collective defense,” said Kingji.
Leaders also stressed the importance of trust and shared responsibility for security in the region.
“When we speak about regional mechanisms, such as the A5 initiative, we are speaking of something much more important than logistics and operational procedures. We are speaking of solidarity,” Knezevic said. “We are speaking of building trust among neighbors. We are speaking of a readiness to share responsibility for the security of the region.”
Additional attendees included senior leaders from each of the charter and observer nations’ U.S. National Guard State Partnership Program states, including Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Vermont.
Grynkewich is also scheduled to meet with Albanian heads of state during the event, including President Bajram Begaj, Prime Minister Edi Rama and Defense Minister Pirro Vengu, to further Albania’s partnership and security cooperation efforts with the U.S. and NATO.
