Albania’s Prime Minister, Edi Rama, expressed his concerns about the insufficient cyber defense funding provided by the United States during a public forum event. Rama highlighted the need for increased financial support from Congress to protect Albania from cyberattacks and criticized the lack of full support in providing the necessary funds.
He referred to a significant cyber attack that targeted government services in Albania last July, attributing the attack to the Iranian state due to Albania’s sheltering of members from the Mujahideen E-Khalq group.
Rama emphasized Albania’s vulnerability despite its advanced digital services and ranking among the top countries in Europe for offering online services to citizens. He stressed the ongoing threat and the need for continuous financial support, expressing that the issue often loses significance once it is no longer in the news.
The U.S. has allocated $6.9 billion to European defense initiatives this year, mainly focusing on Ukraine’s conflict with Russia.
Following a second Iranian attack on Albania’s Total Information Management System, the U.S. military deployed a team to assist in uncovering adversary activity in the country’s networks.
The Biden administration sanctioned Iran’s spy agency and condemned Tehran, while Albania severed diplomatic relations with Iran. Despite efforts to strengthen their cyber defense, Rama acknowledged the challenges they face and suggested that meaningful progress in providing support depends on interpretation.
Ultimately, Rama expressed his dissatisfaction with the level of support received, indicating that the U.S. could do more to assist Albania in enhancing its cyber defense capabilities.
