The Ministry of Defence () is a department of the Albanian Government, in charge of the formation and implementation of national security and ordering, coordinating and carrying out the general guidelines of the Cabinet about the defence policy, and is the headquarters of the Military of Albania. It is Albania's ministry of defence.

The Defence Minister of Albania is the nominal head of all the military, serving under the President of Albania, who is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Albania. The defence minister exercises the administrative and operational authority over the military. The armed forces under the Ministry of Defence are primarily responsible for ensuring the territorial integrity of the nation.

Structure The Ministry of Defence includes numerous smaller agencies aside from the three main branches of the military. These include the Authority of the State Export Control, the Military Export Import Company, the Center of Culture, Media, and Defence Publications, the Inter-Institutional Maritime Operation Centre, and the Defence Intelligence Security Agency. These agencies, centers, and offices report to the Minister of Defence.

Authority of the State Export Control The Authority of the State Export Control (AKSHE) (Albanian: Autoriteti i Kontrollit Shtetëror të Eksporteve) is the agency tasked with controlling the export, import, and transportation of military goods.

Centre of Culture, Media, and Defence Publications The Centre of Culture, Media, and Defence Publications (QKMBM) (Albanian: Qendra e Kulturës, Medias, Botimeve të Mbrojtjes, Muzeut dhe Shtëpive të Pushimit) is an organization involved in public relations and general communications for the Ministry of Defence. It is itself composed of the Directorate of Public Relations and Communications, the Directorate of Publications, the Directorate of the Community Relations Activities, and the Directorate of Sports Activities.

Inter-Institutional Maritime Operation Centre The Inter-Institutional Maritime Operation Centre (IMOC) (Albanian: Qendra Ndërinstitucionale Operacionale Detare) is an inter-ministry agency tasked with managing Albania's maritime territory. It is a collaboration between the Ministries of Defence, Internal Affairs, Finance, Environment, Transportation, Agriculture, and Tourism.

Defence Intelligence Security Agency The Defence Intelligence Security Agency (DISA) (Albanian: Agjencia e Inteligjencës dhe Sigurisë së Mbrojtjes (AISM)) is a military intelligence agency within the Ministry of Defence, which provides intelligence to the Ministry as well as the Albanian Armed Forces. It is governed by Law No. 65/2014.

Reorganization Since the establishment of the institution, the Ministry of Defence has undergone several administrative changes to its organizational structure. When a new department was formed, it often merged with the ministry thus expanding its role, subsequently leading to the name of the ministry being changed. If that department later broke off as a separate ministry or was dissolved, the ministry reverted to its original name.

Ministry of War (1912–1939) Ministry of War and Defence Command (1944–1946) Ministry of National Defence (1946–1950) Ministry of People's Defence (1950–1991) Ministry of Defence (1991–present)

Subordinate institutions Armed Forces Academy Export Control State Authority (AKSHE) Center of Culture, Media and Defence Publications (QKMBM) Inter-Institutional Marine Operation Centre (QNOD)

Officeholders (1912–present) PortraitNameTerm of officePolitical party Cabinet(s) Took office Left office Time in office 1 Mehmet Pashë Deralla 4 December 1912 24 January 1914 Independent Provisional Government 2 Essad Toptani 14 March 1914 13 April 1975 Independent Përmeti I 3 Kara Seit Pasha August 1914 3 September 1914 Independent Përmeti II 4 Isuf Dibra 5 October 1914 27 January 1916 Independent Toptani Austro-Hungarian occupation of Albania (1916–1918) 5 Ali Riza Kolonja 30 January 1920 4 November 1920 Independent Delvina 6 15 November 1920 16 October 1921 Independent Vrioni I–II 7 16 October 1921 6 December 1921 Independent Evangjeli 8 Zija Dibra 6 December 1921 12 December 1921 Independent Prishtina 9 12 December 1921 24 December 1921 Independent Kosturi 10 Ismail Haki Tatzati 24 December 1921 19 August 1923 Independent YpiZogu I 11 Mustafa Aranitasi 19 August 1923 25 February 1924 Independent Zogu I 30 May 1924 10 June 1924 Vrioni III 12 16 June 1924 24 December 1924 Independent Noli 13 Enver Hoxha 23 October 1944 31 July 1953 Party of Labour Hoxha I–II–III–IV–V–VI 14 Beqir Balluku 1 August 1953 28 October 1974 Party of Labour Hoxha VIIShehu I–II–III–IV–V–VI–VII–VIII–IX 15 Mehmet Shehu 28 October 1974 26 April 1980 Party of Labour Shehu X–XI–XII 16 Kadri Hazbiu 26 April 1980 10 October 1982 Party of Labour Çarçani I 17 Prokop Murra 10 October 1982 7 July 1990 Party of Labour Çarçani I–II–III–IV 18 Kiço Mustaqi 8 July 1990 10 May 1991 Party of Labour Çarçani V–VI 19 11 May 1991 4 June 1991 Socialist Party Nano I–II 20 Perikli Teta 11 June 1991 6 December 1991 Democratic Party Bufi 21 Alfred Moisiu 18 December 1991 13 April 1992 Independent Ahmeti 22 Safet Zhulali 13 April 1992 1 March 1997 Democratic Party Meksi I–II–III–IV 23 Shaqir Vukaj 11 March 1997 24 July 1997 Socialist Party Fino 24 Sabit Brokaj 25 July 1997 23 April 1998 Socialist Party Nano III 25 23 April 1998 8 July 2000 Socialist Party Majko IMeta I 26 Ilir Gjoni 8 July 2000 9 November 2000 Meta I 27 Ismail Lleshi 9 November 2000 6 September 2001 Socialist Party Meta I 28 Pandeli Majko 6 September 2001 29 January 2002 Socialist Party Meta II 29 22 February 2002 25 July 2002 Socialist Party Majko II (28) Pandeli Majko 29 July 2002 10 September 2005 Socialist Party Nano IV–V 30 Fatmir Mediu 11 September 2005 21 March 2008 Republican Party Berisha I 31 Gazmend Oketa 28 March 2008 17 September 2009 Republican Party Berisha I 32 Arben Imami 17 September 2009 15 September 2013 Democratic Party Berisha II 33 Mimi Kodheli 15 September 2013 13 September 2017 Socialist Party Rama I 34 Olta Xhaçka 13 September 2017 31 December 2020 Socialist Party Rama II 35 Niko Peleshi 4 January 2021 30 July 2024 Socialist Party Rama II–III 36 Pirro Vengu 30 July 2024 26 February 2026 Socialist Party Rama III–IV 37 Ermal Nufi 6 March 2026 Incumbent Socialist Party Rama IV

Notes

See also Military of Albania

References