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Strategic Document – Albania – 2024

NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY: 2003
NATIONAL DEFENCE STRATEGY: 2020

NO CHANGES IN 2023

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National interests and goals (as defined in the Strategies):
Protection and consolidation of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of the Republic of Albania // Strengthening fundamental freedoms, human rights and the rule of law // Protection and promotion of the interests of Albanians wherever they may be // Preservation and development of national identity

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Main threats:
Organised crime // Corrupt individuals // Terrorism // Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and long-range weapons

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Main principles of national security policy:
Accountability and transparency // Activities of the Armed Forces based on the Constitution and subject to democratic control of competent institutions // Small, efficient and profiled force based on personnel rather than heavy weaponry // Promoting gender equality and increasing women’s participation

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Regional cooperation:
Peace, stability and prosperity in the region are of strategic importance to Albania. Our interest is to have a region that is integrated into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures, where inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony reigns. This will be realised through good neighbourly relations, cooperation in good faith, respect for minorities and inclusion.
Relations between the countries of the region have improved, and cooperation has increased both qualitatively and quantitatively. Integration processes are catalysts for democratic reform, cooperation, good neighbouring relations and the reconciliation process. Promoting sustainable economic development will be achieved through deep regional economic integration aimed at creating an open and free regional market as a precondition for the region’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

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Regional threats:
Problems in the region can still be caused by extreme nationalism. The existence of divided societies continues to pose a potential threat, due to the potential reopening of the border issue. Political exploitation and failure to exercise the rights of certain ethnic or minority groups could continue to cause sporadic tensions and generate negative consequences in bilateral and multilateral relations. Unresolved interstate disputes and problems can affect the quality of regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations, slowing down integration processes.

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Relations with NATO:
Membership in the North Atlantic Alliance is an inherent guarantee of national security, and the Republic of Albania is committed to fulfilling the obligations arising from saidmembership.

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Relations with the EU:
Albania’s membership in the European Union is the country’s most important strategic goal for the next decade. EU integration is also linked to the country’s participation in the European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common
Security and Defence Policy.

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International military cooperation:
Albania is committed to actively promoting regional and global peace and stability, increasing its role in regional and international organisations, and to participating in missions led by the UN, NATO and the EU.

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Strategic Documents – Albania

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Women in Defence System – Albania – 2024

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National Action Plan 1325:

In 2018, Albania adopted its first two-year action plan on women, peace and security. The date of adoption of the Albanian government’s second plan remain unclear. However, the Ministry of Defence officially said that it has submitted its findings to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection responsible for compiling a comprehensive summary report on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in Albania.

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Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

Albania has achieved the NATO standard of 15% of female uniformed personnel in the army. However, Albania is the only country in the region with the quota for women in the army (15%) that can affect their further admission. In 2023, Albania had the highest percentage of women officers and non-commissioned officers in the Western Balkans, comprising 21% of officers and 13.5% of NCOs. Still, the percentage of female enlisted personnel (11%) remains lower than other countries in the region. The MoD has a civil employee representation rate of 37% women.

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Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

The current representation of women in leadership positions is approximately 10%, which equates to 44 women. Manushaqe Shehu, the first female Deputy Chief of General Staff, holds the highest rank of Major General in the Albanian Armed Forces since 2018. In addition, Albania had two women as its defence ministers until 2020.

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Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

The percentage of women participating in missions abroad remains at 5%.

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Albania

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International Military Cooperation – Albania – 2024

MILITARY EXERCISES

Based on open-source data, Albania is estimated to have participated in 20 military events in 2023.
There were 17 multilateral exercises. Most of these exercises were with NATO, ten total. There were three US-led multilateral exercises. There were four regional multilateral exercises: one with the Adriatic Charter (A-5) and two with the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (ADRION). The most important of these regional exercises was the special operation forces’ exercise hosted by Albania, “Strong Balkan 23 (B-9)”; an exercise
intended to boost interoperability with NATO. In total, Albania participated in three bilateral military drills in 2023. Two bilateral military drills were conducted with the US and one with the New Jersey Army National Guard. One bilateral military drill was done with Turkey.

DONATIONS

As the Albanian MoD refused to respond to the request for access to information, open-source research was conducted. Based on open sources, the US was the largest military donor to Albania in 2023 with USD 9.74 million.

TOP FOREIGN DONORS 2022

United States of America
USD 9.74 million

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
International Military Cooperation – Albania

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Defence expenditure – Albania – 2024

Despite the notable growth in Albanian defence expenditure over the last five years, the expenditure remains below the NATO commitment of 2% of GDP for defence spending. Nevertheless, the planned budget for 2024 indicates a substantial increase compared to 2023, suggesting that the NATO goal should be reached in 2024. The defence expenditure’s share in Albania’s total government expenditure is continuously increasing. Based on the latest Budget Law amendments from 2023, it is planned to reach 9.18% of total government expenditure.

2023

Share of GDP 1,63%
Share of total government
expenditure 9,18%

The balance sheet for the year 2022 (adopted in May 2023) indicates a significant deviation from the initial budget, a variance not observed in the preceding years. The budget is usually underspent, which is a trend that appears to persist in 2023.

The defence budget structure is not evident from Albanian official documents that are publicly available, which is why the NATO database was used for this purpose. Personnel spending has significantly decreased in 2023, while the increase in arms and equipment spending is considerable.

During 2022 the salaries of the Albanian armed forces were increased by 30%. The increase will continue in 2023 by 7% for all ranks, which
explains the decrease in spending on personnel compared to 2022. In the beginning of 2023, Albanian Minister of Defence announced procurement of the unmanned combat aerial vehicles – TB2 armed drones, from the Turkish company “Baykar Technologies”, as well as building of the cyber field operational centre.

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Defence Expenditures – Albania

2023-IMC-Albanija

International Military Cooperation – Albania – 2023

MILITARY EXERCISES

Based on open-source data, it is estimated that Albania has participated in 16 military exercises with NATO and NATO allies. If one adds bilateral exercises with the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) to this, the number rises to 20. Albania continues to conduct its military exercises within the framework of NATO and participate in military drills organised by the US, including the US military and the New Jersey Army National Guard, as well as those that are organised by the UK and Turkey. Also, the military medical team participated in an exercise under the auspices of the Balkan Medical Task Force (BMTF). These drills are multinational and include various categories, including regular troops, special forces and naval exercises.

DONATIONS

The US and Turkey are traditionally the two largest military donors in Albania. The same was in 2021. The only difference compared to the previous year is that, in 2022, the overall value of Turkey’s donation was higher than that of the US. From the Government of the Republic of Turkey, Albania received goods in the amount of USD 2,088,500, while from the Government of the United States of America it received goods in the amount of USD 1,436,136. Open-source research could only identify that Ankara has donated 40 vehicles (cars and buses) to the Albanian Armed Forces.

TOP FOREIGN DONORS 2022

United States of America
EUR 1,436,136
Turkey
EUR 2,088,500

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
International Military Cooperation – Albania

2023-Woman-Albanija

Women in Defence System – Albania – 2023

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National Action Plan 1325:

Most countries have already adopted the second generation of action plans, except for Albania, which was the last in the region to adopt the first Action Plan in 2018. The Albanian Action Plan expired in 2020 and there seems to be no political will to draft a new one. The Ministry of Defence however states that it complies with other gender related documents, such as the newly adopted National Strategy on Gender Equality 2021-2030. The Ministry is focused on fulfilling three strategic goals: promoting and enhancing women’s leadership in the military, increasing women’s participation in missions and operations, and increasing the number of women in the Albanian military representations in NATO command structures and the number of women in diplomatic missions.

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Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

The total number of employees in the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces is 7,749, of which 19.98% are women. This constitutes a slight increase of 0.58% compared to 2021. The representation of women in the Albanian Armed Forces is 14.98% (892 women out of 5,953 personnel), which is an increase of 0.66% compared to
2021. Albania thus met the NATO goal of 15% of female uniformed personnel in the armed forces. However, Albania is the only country in the region with the quota for women in the army (15%) that can affect their further admission. The increase of representation of women in the armed forces is slow; namely, the percentage of women military personnel in the armed forces in 2011 was 12.3%, in 2012 – 13.42%, while in 2013 it decreased to 11.2%.¹ Still, Albania had the highest share of women officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) in 2022 – 21.01% of the officers (365 out of the total of 1,737) and 13.78% of the non-commissioned officers (348 out of the total of 2,525), while female enlisted personnel make up 10.58% (179 out of the total of 1,691), which is an increase of 1.94%. The percentage of women among the civil employees in the MoD is 36.56%. In other words, out of 1,795 civil servants, 657 are women.

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Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

Female officers who perform duties of commander and deputy commander make up 8.25% (35 women out of 424). The highest rank of women in the Albanian Armed Forces is that of Major General. This rank is held by Manushaqe Shehu, who became the first female Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Albanian Armed Forces in 2018. Until recently, Albania had two women defence ministers, who headed the Ministry from 2013 to 2020. Mrs. Olta Xhaçka was the second woman to be appointed Minister of Defence (2017-2020) after Mrs. Mimi Kodheli, who led the defence sector for four consecutive years. There are also other decision-making positions held by women, such as that of Deputy Defence Minister.

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Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

As at 21 December 2022, 16 out of 324 military personnel participating in missions are women, which is 5%. This represents a slight decrease compared to 2019, when 7% of women participated in NATO operations. ²

      1.    Megi Llubani, Women’s representation in the security sector in Albania, Albanian Institute for International Studies, 2014, https://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/albania.pdf
      2.    North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Summary of the National Reports of NATO Member and Partner Nationsto the NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives, 2019, p. 142, https://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/2021/9/pdf/NCGP_Full_Report_2019.pdf

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Albania

2023-DE-Albanija

Defence expenditure – Albania – 2023

Albanian defence expenditure has experienced a steady increase since 2017, with the exception of 2020, when spending on defence stagnated. Even though it has not reached the NATO goal of 2%
of GDP, the defence expenditure’s share in Albania’s total government expenditure increased from 4.5% in 2017 to almost 9% planned for 2022.

2022

Share of GDP 1.67%
Share of total government
expenditure 8.86%

The Albanian defence spending does not deviate significantly from the budget (+- 4%). In fact,it is usually slightly underspent.

 

The Albanian defence budget is the least transparent and detailed in the region, as it shows only several general categories: Planning, Management and Administration, Combat Forces, Military Education, Combat Support and Health Support. Hence, the publicly available information makes the budget structure and the amounts spent on personnel, or on arms and equipment, inconclusive. Data provided to NATO show that the gradual rise of the Albanian defence expenditure can be attributed to small increases in the arms and equipment
spending each year. On the other hand, personnel costs have faced a downward trend since 2017. In 2022, Albania announced the procurement of Javelin anti-tank missiles and Bayraktar drones.

    1. The Albanian budget structure graph was designed using information from the NATO database. Since it could not be derived from the government balance sheets or budgets due to the highly aggregated structure of the documents, it should not be directly compared with the budget structure of other countries in this report.

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Defence Expenditures – Albania

2023-SD-Albanija

Strategic Document – Albania – 2023

NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY: 2014
NATIONAL DEFENCE STRATEGY: 2015

NO CHANGES IN 2022

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National interests and goals (as defined in the Strategies):
Protection and consolidation of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of the Republic of Albania // Strengthening fundamental freedoms, human rights and the rule of law // Protection and promotion of the interests of Albanians wherever they may be // Preservation and development of national identity

icon02

Main threats:
Organised crime // Corrupt individuals // Terrorism // Proliferation of weapons ofmass destruction and long-range weapons

icon03

Main principles of national security policy:
Accountability and transparency // Activities of the Armed Forces based on the Constitution and subject to democratic control of competent institutions // Small, efficient and profiled force based on personnel rather than heavy weaponry // Promoting gender equality and increasing women’s participation

icon04

Regional cooperation:
Peace, stability and prosperity in the region are of strategic importance to Albania. Our interest is to have a region that is integrated into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures, where inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony reigns. This will be realised through good neighbourly relations, cooperation in good faith, respect for minorities and inclusion. Relations between the countries of the region have improved, and cooperation has increased both qualitatively and quantitatively. Integration processes are catalysts for democratic reform, cooperation, good neighbouring relations and the reconciliation process. Promoting sustainable economic development will be achieved through deep regional economic integration aimed at creating an open and free regional market as a precondition for the region’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

icon05

Regional threats:
Problems in the region can still be caused by extreme nationalism. The existence of divided societies continues to pose a potential threat, due to the potential reopening of the border issue. Political exploitation and failure to exercise the rights of certain ethnic or minority groups could continue to cause sporadic tensions and generate negative consequences in bilateral and multilateral relations. Unresolved interstate disputes and problems can affect the quality of regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations, slowing down integration
processes.

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Relations with NATO:
Membership in the North Atlantic Alliance is an inherent guarantee of national security, and the Republic of Albania is committed to fulfilling the obligations arising from saidmembership.

icon07

Relations with the EU:
Albania’s membership in the European Union is the country’s most important strategic goal for the next decade. EU integration is also linked to the country’s participation in the European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy.

icon08

International military cooperation:
Albania is committed to actively promoting regional and global peace and stability, increasing its role in regional and international organisations, and to participating in missions led by the UN, NATO and the EU.

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Strategic Documents – Albania

Albania-WSD-Baner

Women in Defence System – Albania – 2022

women-icon01
National Action Plan 1325:

Most countries have already adopted their second generation of action plans, except for Albania, which was the last in the region to adopt the first action plan in 2018. The Albanian action plan expired in 2020 and there seems to be no political will to draft a new one. The Ministry of Defence however states that it complies with other gender-related documents, such as the newly adopted National Strategy on Gender Equality 2021-2030. The Ministry is focused on fulfilling three strategic goals: promoting and enhancing women’s leadership in the military, increasing women’s participation in missions and operations, and increasing the number of women in the Albanian military representations in NATO command structures and the number of women in diplomatic missions.

women-icon02
Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

There was a 14.01% representation of female military personnel in the Armed Forces in 2020, which was an increase of 0.27% compared to December 2019. The total number of employees in the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces is 7,413, of which 18.6% are women. Albania will therefore soon meet the NATO standard of 15% of female uniformed personnel in the armed forces. However, Albania is the only country in the region with the quota for women in the army (15%) that can affect their further admission. The increase of representation of women in the armed forces is slow, given that the percentage of women military personnel in the armed forces in 2011 was 12.3%, in 2012 – 13.42%, while in 2013 it decreased to 11.2%. Still, Albania had the highest percentage of women officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) in 2020 – 19.51% of officers (341 out of the total of 1,747) and 14.89% of non-commissioned officers (348 out of the total of 2,337). The percentage of women among the civil employees in the MoD is 35.55%. In other words, out of 1,578 civil servants, 561 are women.

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Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

There are no precise data on the representation of women in command and leadership positions. The highest rank held by women in the Albanian Armed Forces is that of Major General. This rank is held by Manushaqe Shehu, who became the first female Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Albanian Armed Forces in 2018. Until recently, Albania had two women defence ministers, who headed the Ministry from 2013 to 2020. Mrs. Olta Xhaçka was the second woman to be appointed Minister of Defence (2017-2020) after Mrs. Mimi Kodheli, who led the defence sector for four consecutive years. There are also other decision-making positions held by women, such as that of Deputy Defence Minister.

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Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

Albania has been a member of NATO for almost 15 years. However, it is only in the last three that the percentage of women in NATO operations has increased. Albania has increased the representation of women in NATO operations by 75%, from 4% in 2018 to 7% in 2019. Lieutenant Aurela Bala and Sergeant Esmeralda Murati were the first two women from the Albanian Armed Forces to take part in an international naval operation in 2017, i.e. the NATO operation “Sea Guardian” in the Aegean Sea to monitor and prevent illegal immigration into the EU. Apart from NATO operations, two women peacekeepers from Albania were also engaged in UN operations in 2020.

2022 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Albania

Albania-SD-Baner

Strategic Document – Albania – 2022

NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY: 2014
NATIONAL DEFENCE STRATEGY: 2015

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National interests and goals (as defined in the Strategies):
Protection and consolidation of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of the Republic of Albania // Strengthening fundamental freedoms, human rights and the rule of law // Protection and promotion of the interests of Albanians wherever they may be // Preservation and development of national identity

icon02

Main threats:
Organised crime // Corrupt individuals // Terrorism // Proliferation of weapons ofmass destruction and long-range weapons

icon03

Main principles of national security policy:
Accountability and transparency // Activities of the Armed Forces based on the Constitution and subject to democratic control of competent institutions // Small, efficient and profiled force based on personnel rather than heavy weaponry // Promoting gender equality and increasing women’s participation

icon04

Regional cooperation:
Peace, stability and prosperity in the region are of strategic importance to Albania. Our interest is to have a region that is integrated into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures, where inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony reigns. This will be realised through good neighbourly relations, cooperation in good faith, respect for minorities and inclusion. Relations between the countries of the region have improved, and cooperation has increased both qualitatively and quantitatively. Integration processes are catalysts for democratic reform, cooperation, good neighbouring relations and the reconciliation process. Promoting sustainable economic development will be achieved through deep regional economic integration aimed at creating an open and free regional market as a precondition for the region’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

icon05

Regional threats:
Problems in the region can still be caused by extreme nationalism. The existence of divided societies continues to pose a potential threat, due to the potential reopening of the border issue. Political exploitation and failure to exercise the rights of certain ethnic or minority groups could continue to cause sporadic tensions and generate negative consequences in bilateral and multilateral relations. Unresolved interstate disputes and problems can affect the quality of regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations, slowing down integration
processes.

icon06

Relations with NATO:
Membership in the North Atlantic Alliance is an inherent guarantee of national security, and the Republic of Albania is committed to fulfilling the obligations arising from saidmembership.

icon07

Relations with the EU:
Albania’s membership in the European Union is the country’s most important strategic goal for the next decade. EU integration is also linked to the country’s participation in the European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy.

icon08

International military cooperation:
Albania is committed to actively promoting regional and global peace and stability, increasing its role in regional and international organisations, and to participating in missions led by the UN, NATO and the EU.

2022 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Strategic Documents – Albania