At Thursday’s European Community summit in Copenhagen, U.S. President Donald Trump was mock‑handled by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama over a joke linking an alleged Albanian–Azerbaijani peace to his own country.
Trump’s Albania–Azerbaijan Joke
During the summit, President Trump quipped that he had helped bring peace between Albania and Azerbaijan, a reference actually to a dispute involving Armenia. Prime Minister Edi Rama responded, “You should apologize to us, because you did not congratulate the peaceful agreement between Albania and Azerbaijan.” That statement, recorded by the camera, was met with laughter from President Emmanuel Macron, who replied, “I apologize for that.”
Origins of the Misattributed Victory
Trump claimed responsibility for ending war-like conflicts, notably stating, “I solved wars that were undifferentiable. Azerbaijan and Albania held for many, many years.” He referred to a peace agreement finalized in August at the White House between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, a conflict over Nagorno‑Karabakh. Trump’s remarks reflected a pattern of geographic confusion, such as his 2018 blunder where he blamed the Baltic states for the breakup of Yugoslavia.
European Community Summit Outcomes
The summit in Copenhagen produced a joint declaration on countering rising migration challenges. Leaders agreed to strengthen measures against human traffickers, improve cooperation between agencies, and impose sanctions on criminal networks. The document called for efficient, abuse‑resistant asylum systems and emphasized respect for international law, including the Geneva Convention. It also urged that returns of individuals denied protection be expedited through coordinated diplomatic and visa actions.
The declaration highlighted cooperation with countries of origin and transit, offering support for development, education, and voluntary return programs.
Participants in the Summit
Attendees included leaders from Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Malta, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
