Prime Minister Edi Rama stated in his podcast “Flasim” that the 2026 budget increases defense funding by nearly 12% compared to the previous year.

Rama said that the salary increase for military personnel has been in effect since January, while at the latest government meeting, the coverage of transportation costs for every active soldier was also approved.

He emphasized that this is a welcome step and that the goal remains for the salary of a basic soldier in the Republic of Albania to increase by up to 70% within this mandate, bringing it closer to the average salaries in NATO countries.

“When we approved the 2026 budget, we decided to allocate nearly 12% more funds to defense than the previous year, which was naturally also the result of our commitment to adhere to the schedule of increased funding by NATO countries, but also to uphold our pledge for increasingly dignified treatment of our armed forces. At the end of February, we also decided on salary increases for military personnel, with a direct effect from January, and in the latest government meeting, we approved the coverage of transportation costs for every active soldier. This is a long-awaited and welcome step for all those who, under the uniform of our Armed Forces, serve the country on every front, and our goal remains a competitive salary and financial treatment that, by the end of this mandate, will be in line with the average of NATO countries. In other words, by the end of this mandate, the projected objective—already translated into a salary increase plan—is for the salary of a basic soldier in the Republic of Albania to increase by up to 70%,” Rama said.