Over 3,5 billion GEL is to be allocated from the State Budget 2026 for the Defense and Interior Ministries and the Security Service, as reported to the Defense and Security Committee by Giorgi Kakauridze, the First Deputy Finance Minister, when introducing the Draft State Budget 2026.

According to him, the allocation shall also envisage a 10% rise in salaries for the police and military services. As for the defense infrastructure and capacities, 445 million GEL are outlined in the Budget.

The reporter introduced the main financial and macroeconomic parameters. According to his account, the real economic growth has been planned by a conservative approach and is expected to be determined at 5%. The budget deficit is set at 2,5% of GDP, and the total amount of the state budget incomes is determined by 30 290, 8 million GEL, which exceeds the index of 2025 by 2 730,0 ml GEL. As for the expenditures, 30 475, 9 ml GEL will be consumed in this direction.

The Deputy Minister reviewed the assignments for the Ministries and state agencies, including: 1 800,0 ml GEL for the Defense Ministry; 1 473,0 ml GEL for the Interior Ministry; 265 ml GEL for the State Security Service; and 120.5 ml GEL for the State Special Protection Service.

According to Alexander Tabatadze, Chair of the Committee, it is applaudible that the authorities adhere to the given pledge of rising salaries in 2026 by 10%. As he noted, the defense and security officers and employees prove to be highly professional in exercising their duties and shall enjoy the state support.

The Committee members raised the initiative to update the material-technical base of the Security Service through extra allocations. As noted, against the backdrop of the increased tensions and challenges in the region and a wider world, it is expedient to establish modern technologies and respective infrastructure in the security domain, which is not envisaged under the introduced Draft.

According to G. Kakauridze, prior to the submission of a final version of the document, the consultations will be held with the Committee and respective state agencies to reflect all needs and requests in the Budget.

The Committee approved the Draft. The Committee took note of the 6-month implementation of the State Budget 2025, also introduced by G. Kakauridze.