Defence Minister Ermal Nufi presented the 2027 draft budget to the Assembly’s Committee on Internal Affairs and Defence. The plan allocates ALL 76.284 billion, a 10% increase on 2026, equivalent to 2.6% of gross domestic product.

Capital spending accounts for ALL 43.6 billion, while current expenditure totals ALL 32.6 billion. The government plans to invest ALL 5.9 billion in military infrastructure, including facilities supporting Corridor VIII, the military section of the new Porto Romano port and the revitalisation of Vlora Bay Naval Base.

Modernisation projects worth ALL 23.1 billion include light weapons, drones, fixed-wing aircraft, integrated airspace surveillance and counter-drone systems. The plan also covers air defence, military transport and communications at NATO’s Kuçova Air Base.

Reviewing 2026 spending, Nufi reported that the ministry had used 78.5% of its current expenditure budget and around 56% of its investment allocation. He identified slow investment execution as a key challenge and said the ministry was accelerating procedures.

The government expects defence funding to rise by approximately ALL 1 billion annually over the next three years.

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