PM Plenković: Our government increased the military budget from €550 million seven years ago to €1.18 billion today

Over four billion people in the world are going to the polls this year, which means that major democratic processes and possibly major changes will follow. Precisely because of this, this opportunity to discuss the situation in Europe and South-Eastern Europe with a number of colleagues is very important, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said at the International Security Conference in Munich.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Defence Minister Ivan Anušić and Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman attended Munich Security Conference (MSC).

PM Plenković emphasized the importance of the conference in view of the crisis in Ukraine and the Middle East.

"Over four billion people in the world are going to the polls this year, which means that major democratic processes and possibly major changes will follow. Precisely because of this, this opportunity to discuss the situation in Europe and South-Eastern Europe with a number of colleagues is very important", said Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

He also referred to the issue of illegal migration, which had a destabilizing effect on a number of European countries, and therefore it is necessary to strengthen the issue of borders.

"The security of the Schengen borders, the external borders of the EU and the Croatian borders must be a priority", assessed Plenković, adding that, in this context, obligations within the framework of NATO are also crucial.

We are appalled by the news of Navalny's death

PM Plenković stressed out Croatian greater investment in defence and armaments, the return of the army to several Croatian cities, the purchase of Rafale fighter jets and the acquisition of helicopters with a donation from the USA.

While attending the Conference, PM Plenković held several bilateral meeting, among others with the Albanian Prime Minister Rama, the Technical Prime Minister of North Macedonia Džaferi, the Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis, the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, and the chairperson of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Council of Ministers Borjana Krišto.

Asked by the press to comment on the news of death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in prison, PM Plenković said he was appalled by the news, but "nothing surprises us anymore" after Russia's aggression on Ukraine.

"We are appalled by this information, especially since it's not certain whether he (died) or did not, if he did, why etc," Plenković told the press.

"Considering what we experienced nearly two years ago with the Russian aggression on Ukraine, nothing surprises us anymore," he added.

As for Donald Trump's statement that the United States should not defend from Russia the NATO member states which did not set aside enough for defence but that he would encourage it to do what it wanted, Plenković called it a "bad election" statement.

"The statement that we are encouraging someone to attack the Allies which spend 1.99 or 2.01 (percent of their GDP) is not good, of course. It's one thing to be in a campaign and another to be in office, serious and responsible."

PM Plenković stressed out that his government increased the military budget from €550 million seven years ago to €1.18 billion, including for the purchase of Rafale fighter jets and Black Hawk helicopters. "That means that our funds are very important."

Text: Government / Hina

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