Albania's Parliament Approves $302 Million US-Backed Military Financing Loan

Albania's Parliament passed a $302 million US Foreign Military Financing loan agreement 74-0 via accelerated procedure on July 27, 2026, after opposition lawmakers boycotted the closed-door vote over confidentiality concerns. The financing, coordinated between Albania's Ministry of Finance and the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, will fund air, land and naval acquisitions, cyber defense, and command-and-control systems. President Bajram Begaj signed the agreement into law by presidential decree in early August. The loan lands as Albania prepares to host a future NATO summit and underscores continued US bilateral defense financing to smaller allies even as Washington presses larger European members over burden-sharing.