First and Second Treaties of Tirana
The First (1926) and Second (1927) Treaties of Tirana were signed in Tirana between Albania and Italy, focusing on the Albanian economy and military. They allowed Italy to gain power over the country and join the Axis Powers. Background. Albania 1920s-1930s. The two Treaties of Tirana were signed both between Albania and Italy. At the time the country of Albania was under the kingship of Zog I of Albania, known in Albanian as the king of the Albanians, "Mbreti i Shqiptarëve." In 1925, Ahmet Zogu, was elected president for seven years and on 1  September 1928, during his swearing ceremony he proclaimed himself as the King. Being the first and the last king of the Albanian nation, he served the country from 1922 until he fled to London during the start of the Second World War in 1939. Albania was thought by Italy as the portal for the rest of the Balkan countries, Greece and the Near Eastern countries. In May 1925, Albania accepted the proposal of the Italians and the Albanian National Bank was founded. It acted as the country's treasury despite being solely controlled by the Italian banks. For the first  time, Albania had its own national coin minted. The proposal came with a five-year loan equivalent of about 2 million pounds of that time. In non-official meetings with Italian officials, Zog expressed his sympathy for Mussolini and the Italians. He even promised economic concessions to them further peaking their interest in the country of Albania. From the beginning seizing the power as king of the Albanians, Zog wanted to: First Treaty of Tirana (1926). On November 27, 1926, Italy signed with Albania the First Treaty of Tirana ("Pakti i Parë i Tiranës"), the Treaty of Peace and Security , in Albanian "Pakti Italo-Shqiptar i Miqësisë dhe i Sigurimit." The treaty had a duration validity of five years. It pushed Tirana to accept Italian officers and ranking members into their army and police to oversee the Albanian army and train it. King Zog fearing that the unrest of his people will lead to the loss of his throne, signed the treaty. Italy proclaimed Albania as its "guarantor". The two countries would provide support to each other, whether it be military or economic. The treaty consisted of five articles. The treaty was accompanied by money provisions to the King making  it more appealing for him to sign it by exploiting his desperation. Albania was blocked in the Balkan and European arena by Italy. The treaty brought reactions to Albania's neighbouring country, Yugoslavia. The country took military action against Albania's northern border with the support of France. Mussolini recognised the Franco-Yugoslav pact as an act against Italy. Second Treaty of Tirana (1927). On November 22, 1927, the Second Treaty of Tirana ( "Pakti i Dytë i Tiranës") was signed between Albania and Italy, with a duration validity of twenty years. It was a defensive alliance characterised by the Italians  as the Treaty of Defense, in Albanian "Traktati i Aleancës" "Mbrojtëse". The internal threat of a famine triggering uprisings and the external threat of Yugoslavia rushed the Albanians to sign the treaty. It intended to remain a secret between the two countries. It tasked Italy to protect the Albanian territory from possible attacks and in return Albania made available to Italy all of its military arsenal. It was favoured by Italy because of its secretive nature. The Second Treaty consisted of seven articles. It was characterised as a Friendship Pact, "Pakti i Miqësisë", as it linked the two countries firmly  to each other. The treaty allowed the Italians to bring two hundred and eighty officers to train the Albanian army. Military experts started to instruct Albanian paramilitary groups, whilst allowing in the meantime the Italian navy to access the port of Vlorė. Fortifications were also built, especially that of Librazhdit and conditions and rules were created for the protection of the capital. The treaty meant a lot more to the Italians as it enabled them to enter Albania freely, whether a real or fictional threat existed. Their doorway towards the Balkans had opened. Albania came into an inevitable relationship with  Italy. In Rome, a ministry was created specifically to control the Albanian affairs and count Francesco Jacomoni was appointed minister to Albania. Outcome. In 1937, Ciano, the Italian Foreign Minister and Mussolini's son-in-law, mediated with Mussolini to give a further 60 million gold francs to Albania. He saw Albania as a gateway to the Balkans and wanted to expand his plans. This happened because: