We are strengthening the capabilities of the Croatian Army

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković met today at the Banski Dvori with the European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, with whom he discussed European security policy, Russian aggression against Ukraine, transatlantic relations and the consequences of the war in the Middle East.

After the meeting, Commissioner Kubilius signed with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Tomislav Ćorić the Loan Agreement under the Security Initiative for Europe (SAFE) Instrument between the European Union and the Republic of Croatia.

European defence is one of the main priorities of European policy today, said Prime Minister Plenković on that occasion, thanking Commissioner Kubilius for the numerous initiatives he has launched in this context, and he is one of the authors of this new SAFE Instrument.

"This is an important financial instrument that many Member States have used to take out a favorable 45-year loan to invest in their defence capabilities," Plenković stressed.

We have tripled the defense budget and are meeting NATO goals

Speaking about the Agreement, the Prime Minister explained that Croatia will take a loan in the amount of one billion and 700 million euros, and will invest, above all, in the most modern German Leopard tanks, French Caesar howitzers, Czech trucks that are extremely important for transport and logistics, and in various forms of ammunition.

In this way, he emphasized, we are strengthening the capabilities of the Croatian Army, and we are also fulfilling our commitment to the new NATO goals of allocating 3.5 percent of GDP to defense by 2035, with 1.5 percent for defense-related activities.

He recalled that in the ten years of this Government's mandate, Croatia has increased its defense budget three times, and in 2025, these allocations reached the level of 2.1 percent of GDP, of which 34 percent went to modernization and equipment.

"We are doing this to protect our territory, our country, and everything we do has a defensive character," emphasized the Prime Minister and stressed the importance of strengthening Croatia as a reliable partner within NATO, the European Union, the United Nations and other peacekeeping operations around the world.

Kubilius: Croatia takes responsibility for its own defense, but also for the defense of the whole of Europe
 
Commissioner Kubilius emphasized that the challenges and threats we face in the global context oblige us to take responsibility for strengthening European security and defense.

This, he added, is precisely the goal of the SAFE Instrument, which is based on European solidarity and is unprecedented. This is the first time that the European Union has provided financial opportunities to invest in strengthening our defense, helping member states in implementing the goals agreed with NATO, he said.

"Croatia is showing clear leadership by taking responsibility for its own defense, but also for the defense of the whole of Europe," Kubilius said.

He emphasized that Croatia is an example, especially for countries of similar size, in investing in defense and contributing to the collective security of the European Union, assessing the modernization of the air force as extremely significant and highlighting the leading role in the development and production of drones.

He thanked Croatia, and Prime Minister Plenković personally, for the continued and strong support to Ukraine, emphasizing that it is crucial because Ukraine defends the whole of Europe.