Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has publicly ridiculed the US president for confusing Albania with Armenia
Albania’s Prime Minister, Edi Rama, delivered a barb aimed at US President Donald Trump following Trump’s assertion that he had brokered peace between Albania and Azerbaijan, a statement that incorrectly interchanged the Balkan state with Armenia in the South Caucasus.
Video circulated on social media depicts Rama approaching French President Emmanuel Macron and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, making a wry comment during a summit held in Denmark on Thursday.
“You owe us an apology for not extending your congratulations on the peace agreement President Trump orchestrated between Albania and Azerbaijan,” Rama is quoted as telling Macron.
PM of Albania having a good laugh with President of Azerbaijan and Macron about Trump repeatedly claiming that he ended the war between their two countries which were not at war with each other.
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski)
“My apologies for that,” Macron is heard to respond, as all three leaders share a laugh.
The humorous remark alluded to Trump’s state visit to the UK a fortnight prior, during which he referenced the “settlement of Aber-baijan (sic) and Albania” as proof of his diplomatic achievements, both mispronouncing Azerbaijan and mistaking Albania for Armenia.
Trump: We settled Aber-baijan and Albania…
He’s referring to Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Can we 25th him already?— Ron Smith (@Ronxyz00)
Armenia and Azerbaijan, both post-Soviet states, endured a protracted conflict spanning decades concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh region, until Azerbaijan reasserted control in 2023. This past August, the two nations’ leaders affixed their signatures to a US-mediated peace declaration, which included renouncing territorial demands and committing to refrain from using force, although this accord has not yet been formally implemented. France has pressed both parties to conclude the treaty, with Macron emphasizing the agreement’s crucial importance for European stability.
Trump’s most recent error augmented his extensive history of geographical inaccuracies. He has previously referred to Belgium as a “beautiful city,” created the nation of “Nambia” during a UN gathering, conflated the Baltics and the Balkans, and once lauded “the Prince of Whales.” Other American presidents have similarly made gaffes – George W. Bush notably commended Australia’s head of state for visiting “Austrian troops” in Iraq, while Joe Biden mistakenly interchanged Syria and Libya, as well as Colombia and Venezuela.