TIRANA, July 10 /ATA/ – Albania is stepping up investment in defence, military modernisation and strategic infrastructure as part of its commitments to NATO, Defence Minister Ermal Nufi said on Friday.
Speaking to Euronews Albania, Nufi described the recent NATO summit in Ankara as a key milestone, saying allies had reaffirmed commitments made at the Hague summit to increase defence spending and strengthen the alliance’s collective capabilities.
“The Ankara summit reaffirmed strong commitments by all member states on defence spending and their obligations to the Alliance,” Nufi said. “It demonstrated NATO’s unity and its determination to remain prepared for any scenario.”
Nufi said Albania was increasing defence expenditure in line with the alliance’s target of allocating 5% of gross domestic product to defence-related spending by 2035, agreed by NATO allies at the Hague summit.
He said a recently approved government budget revision raises Albania’s core defence spending to 2.2% of GDP, funding military capabilities, defence infrastructure, weapons systems and the modernisation of the armed forces. The investment programme also includes cybersecurity and the protection of critical infrastructure.
Nufi said Albania was investing in new missile defence systems, mobile command centres and other military equipment as part of NATO capability targets linked to Corridor VIII, a strategic transport route that also has a military mobility role.
He said the country remained committed to meeting all NATO obligations and had been recognised by allies for its contributions to alliance missions and efforts to strengthen its military capabilities.
“Albania does not pursue an individual approach to defence, but a collective one within NATO,” Nufi said. “All allied countries operate within a common strategic framework, with capabilities coordinated by the Alliance.”
He added that while the Albanian Armed Forces are in good condition, further investment would focus on modernising equipment and enhancing operational readiness in line with NATO standards.
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