Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Albania
Blerina Abrazhda is the Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Albania, appointed in February 2025. She leads Albania’s efforts to strengthen NATO interoperability, modernize its armed forces, and advance the country’s defense industrial base. Her work is focused on reinforcing Albania’s strategic alignment with the United States and NATO while countering the
influence of Russian, Chinese, and other non-NATO actors in the Balkans.
Before her government appointment, Abrazhda held senior roles in the international defense industry. At Lockheed Martin, she served as Regional Head of Business Development for the Middle East, overseeing sales, government affairs, and partnerships in a market where East and West merge, NATO values are constantly tested, and Russian and Chinese actors seek influence.
Earlier, at Mubadala, she supported the development of the Emirati indigenous defense industry, and at Leonardo, she managed regional programs across the Middle East. In these roles, she worked directly with Admiral Bob Harward, USN (Ret.), and General John Nicholson, USA (Ret.), gaining firsthand experience in U.S. defense priorities and coalition operations.
Abrazhda is a graduate of the Marshall Center Executive Seminar. She holds a Law degree with specialization in Tax Law, and dual Master’s degrees in European and International Studies from LUISS Guido Carli University, Rome. Her academic training focused on international trade agreements, diplomatic and economic relations, and the intersection of law, business, and policy
expertise she now applies to defense, alliance-building, and transatlantic cooperation.
