Albanian Sea as an Integrated Strategic Infrastructure

From the Legacy of World War II to Global Critical Infrastructure in the Adriatic and Ionian Seas

By Isuf B. Bajrami

1. Introduction: The Sea as a Living Strategic Space

The Albanian maritime space in the Adriatic and Ionian Seas cannot be read as a simple geographical boundary between land and water. It is a functional and dynamic space where historical, legal, economic, and technological layers intersect and operate simultaneously.

In contemporary geopolitics, the sea has been transformed from a "transit space" into a global living infrastructure, because it carries the flows that sustain the modern economy: international trade, energy, and digital communication. In this sense, the Adriatic and Ionian Seas are not peripheral Albanian spaces, but part of a broader Mediterranean and Euro-Atlantic system, where every local change produces regional and global consequences.

2. Historical Stratification: World War II and Subsea Memory

One of the less visible characteristics of European seas is the presence of remnants from 20th-century wars. During World War II, the seas became intensive military spaces, where mines were laid, blockades were conducted, and naval artillery was widely used.

These activities did not disappear after the war ended. They left behind a persistent layer of unexploded ordnance (UXO), which today functions as a "silent infrastructure of risk" on the seabed.

This historical layer is not merely a relic of the past. It directly affects:

* the planning of modern ports and marinas,

* the development of maritime tourism,

* the construction of underwater infrastructure,

* and maritime economic activity in general.

In many cases, this risk is not visible on the surface but becomes active only when human interventions disturb the deeper layers of the seabed.

3. The Corfu Channel Case: When History Becomes Legal Norm

One of the most important moments linking Albanian maritime space and international law is:

The Corfu Channel Incident

This case represents a turning point in maritime law, as the International Court of Justice ruled that a state is responsible not only for its direct actions but also for risks existing in its territorial waters when they are known or foreseeable.

This ruling transforms the sea into a space where sovereignty is not absolute, but closely linked to international responsibility and the duty of safety.

4. Sazan and Vlora: From Military Space to Transformation Space

The area of Sazan Island and Vlora represents one of the most typical cases of strategic space transformation in the Balkans.

During the Cold War period, this zone functioned as a closed military area, with defensive and control roles over the southern Adriatic entrance. This has created two layers that still exist today:

First, a inherited physical layer — military structures, tunnels, and naval bases.

Second, a subsea layer — areas where there is still a risk of old munitions remains.

This makes the transformation of the area toward tourism and investment a process conditioned by the "historical cleansing" of the territory, which requires time, technology, and significant resources.

5. Maritime Borders Albania–Greece: Space Where Geography Becomes Politics

Maritime relations between Albania and Greece are not merely a technical border issue, but a complex intersection of international law, geography, and long-term economic interests.

Based on UNCLOS, states have rights over:

* territorial waters,

* exclusive economic zones,

* and the continental shelf.

However, in practice, these spaces are not purely legal. They are linked to:

* subsea energy potential,

* strategic maritime routes,

* and economic control of marine resources.

This makes maritime delimitation a continuous process of negotiation between law and geopolitics.

6. Vlora as a New Economic and Infrastructural Node

In recent decades, Vlora has transformed from a traditional coastal city into a strategic node of economic development.

The construction of the Vlora International Airport is not merely a transport project, but a catalyst for the broader economic transformation of the entire southern region.

This development impacts:

* the increase of international tourism flows,

* integration with Mediterranean transport networks,

* and the creation of a new coastal economy oriented toward services and investment.

7. Subsea Infrastructure: The Invisible Network of the Global Economy

One of the most profound transformations of the 21st century is that the sea is no longer only a physical space, but also a global digital infrastructure.

Subsea cables carrying international internet form the backbone of the modern economy. Without this network, the global financial system, communication, and digital trade would cease to function.

This makes the sea a space where:

* the physical economy,

* the digital economy,

* and cybersecurity at a global level intersect.

8. Modern Security and NATO Transformation

NATO

The modern concept of security has expanded from territorial defense to protecting the systems that sustain the global economy.

Today, threats are not limited to classical military conflicts, but also include:

* sabotage of subsea cables,

* damage to energy networks,

* and disruption of digital infrastructure.

This shows that the sea has become part of the global security architecture, where stability is measured not only by borders, but by the functioning of critical networks.

9. Conclusion: The Sea as a Complex Integrated System

From the analysis of historical, legal, economic, and technological layers, it is clear that the Albanian maritime space is not a simple geographical entity.

It is a complex integrated system, where:

* the history of wars creates present-day constraints,

* international law defines rules of conduct,

* the economy generates development pressure,

* and new technologies create global interdependencies.

In this sense, the sea is no longer a periphery, but a functional center of an interconnected international system.

Footnotes:

1. Robert D. Kaplan, The Revenge of Geography: What the Map Tells Us About Coming Conflicts and the Battle Against Fate (New York: Random House, 2012).

? A classic work on the role of geography in global politics and the structuring of international power.

2. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Review of Maritime Transport 2023 (Geneva: United Nations, 2023).

? Report analyzing the role of maritime transport in the global economy and dependence on sea corridors.

3. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Unexploded Ordnance in Marine Environments (Nairobi: UNEP, 2005).

? Study on the long-term impact of unexploded ordnance on marine ecosystems and economic development.

4. International Court of Justice, Corfu Channel Case (United Kingdom v. Albania), Judgment of 9 April 1949 (The Hague: ICJ Reports, 1949).

? Landmark ruling establishing state responsibility for risks within territorial waters.

5. NATO, Mine Countermeasures and Maritime Security Reports (Brussels: NATO Allied Command, 2010–2022).

? Documents on naval mine risks and demining operations in European maritime spaces.

6. United Nations, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) (Montego Bay: United Nations, 1982).

? The core international legal framework for the delimitation and use of maritime spaces.

7. World Bank, Western Balkans Infrastructure and Economic Connectivity Report (Washington, D.C.: World Bank, 2021).

? Analysis of infrastructure's role in economic development and regional integration.

8. International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Submarine Cable Systems and Global Internet Infrastructure Report (Geneva: ITU, 2022).

? Study on submarine cables as the backbone of the global internet.

9. NATO, Strategic Concept 2022 (Madrid: NATO, 2022).

? Strategic document expanding security concepts to critical infrastructure and global networks.

10. International Energy Agency (IEA), Offshore Energy and Maritime Infrastructure Report (Paris: IEA, 2022).

? Analysis of offshore and underwater energy infrastructure in global energy security.

11. International Maritime Organization (IMO), Safety of Navigation and Maritime Risk Guidelines (London: IMO, 2020–2023).

? International standards for navigation safety and maritime risk management.

12. European Commission, Blue Economy Strategy for Sustainable Maritime Development (Brussels: European Union, 2021).

? EU policy on sustainable economic development of maritime spaces.

The Land of Leka, 19.05.2026