On April 8, 2025, at the port of Durrës, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the formal launch of bilateral naval cooperation with Italy, marked by two significant milestones: the signing of a Letter of Intent for the transfer of the Italian Navy’s Libra (P402), a Cassiopea-class offshore patrol vessel, to the Albanian Naval Force, and the establishment of a strategic joint venture between the Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri and the Albanian firm KAYO. These agreements were presented as part of a broader strategy to deepen defense cooperation, enhance naval capabilities, and strengthen industrial partnerships between Albania and Italy.
The offshore patrol vessel Libra (P402) was officially handed over by Italy to Albania during a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Rama, Albanian Defence Minister Niko Peleshi, and Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto. The ship docked in Durrës after departing Italy accompanied by the iconic training ship Amerigo Vespucci. Minister Crosetto emphasized the strategic value of the gesture, describing it as a reflection of mutual trust and deepening defense collaboration between two NATO member states. Prime Minister Rama welcomed the transfer as a turning point in bilateral relations, describing the evolving ties as a transformation of an ancient friendship into a strategic partnership based on trust and sharing.