TIRANA, Nov.5/ATA/- The 2021 budget for Ministry of Defense is estimated at ALL 2.7 billion, or 11.8% more than in 2020. The 2021 budget addresses the main priorities of Ministry of Defense and the expectations of the allies.
In her remarks at the today’s plenary session the Minister of Defense, Olta Xhaçka said that, “as the 2020 budget was 1.46% of Gross Domestic Product, for 2021 the budget goes up to 1.5% of GDP, which is fully aligned with our objectives and commitments made at the Wales Summit to bring it to 1.75% in 2022, and 1.85% of GDP in the 2023 budget, ” – said Xhaçka.
“In nominal terms, the 2021 budget has seen an increase of about ALL 2.7 billion or 11.8% compared to the plan for 2020. The fact that the budget has increased is only one side of the story. Because by increasing the budget, and the reason the Allies insist on increasing the budget to reach 2% of GDP, is not an end in itself. The way in which this money is spent and the products for which it is used is essential. I say this because if we look back on previous budgets of the Ministry of Defense – those of you who have been long in this committee, I believe, are aware – it is clear that oftentimes budgets are used for anything, but advancing the commitments and priorities. , – said Xhaçka.
“The defense budget will be used to support the defense programs envisaged for the years 2021-2023, for which budget requirements have been drafted: Support for staff; Domestic and foreign operations and civil emergencies; Readiness and maintenance; training; Education and qualification; International structures and commitments; modernization; Infrastructure; Support through goods and services and administrative support,” – said Xhaçka.
Minister Xhaçka also announced that the largest-scale military drill will take place in the late spring, early summer of 2021 for the first time in Albania.
“The international exercise Defender Europe- 2021, a bilateral exercise involving the USA Army, is the first of its kind ever held in Albania with the participation of 8,000 American troops. The Defender 2021 exercise will be extended to almost all land, sea or air bases in Albania, from north to south. To this end, the working group of the Albanian Armed Forces and the US military representatives have conducted familiarization visits to all these bases where the Exercise Defender-Europe 2021 is planned to take place,” she added. //a.i/
