In a July 25, 1922 telegram Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes informed the American Commissioner in Albania, Maxwell Blake, that on July 28, 1922 Blake “may extend to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania written notification of the de jure recognition of Albania by the United States.”

Diplomatic relations were established on December 4, 1922, when Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Ulysses Grant-Smith presented credentials to the government of Albania in Tirana.

Italian forces invaded Albania in 1939 and occupied Tirana on April 8, 1939. U.S.-Albanian diplomatic relations ended on June 5, 1939, when Albanian Minister for Foreign Affairs notified the American Minister in Albania that Italy had taken control of Albania’s foreign affairs. Legation Tirana was officially closed on September 16, 1939.

The United States and Albania resumed diplomatic relations on March 15, 1991, when Albanian Foreign Minister Muhamet Kapllani and Assistant Secretary Raymond Seitz signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Washington.

Prior to mutual official recognition, American Commissioner Maxwell Blake exchanged notes with Albanian President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs Djafer Upi to ensure mutual most-favored-nation status in future commercial treaties between Albania and the United States.

Following the expulsion of Italian and German occupying troops by Albanian nationalist groups, the United States signed a treaty with the Albanian military authority promising relief supplies via military operation.