- by croatiaweek
- January 12, 2026
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(Photo credit: MORH/ J. Šeri)
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte paid a working visit to Croatia today, holding talks with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Defence Minister Ivan Anušić and senior military officials.
The visit began at the “Colonel Marko Živković” barracks in Zagreb, where some of the most modern equipment now in service with the Croatian Armed Forces were presented.
These included the Rafale multi-role fighter jets, Black Hawk UH-60M helicopters and Bayraktar unmanned aerial vehicles.
Chief of the General Staff, General Tihomir Kundid, underlined that Croatia has now fully assumed control of its airspace following the introduction of the Rafale jets.
(Photo credit: MORH/ J. Šeri)
He also highlighted the Black Hawk helicopter fleet as a key symbol of Croatia’s transition from Eastern to Western military technology.
(Photo credit: MORH/ J. Šeri)
Talks continued at Banski dvori, where Prime Minister Plenković briefed Rutte on Croatia’s fulfilment of its NATO commitments.
He confirmed that Croatia’s defence spending reached 2.08 per cent of GDP in 2025, amounting to €1.9 billion, exceeding the Alliance’s agreed target.
(Photo credit: MORH/ J. Šeri)
Plenković outlined further investments in modern military capabilities, including self-propelled howitzers and Leopard tanks, and noted that Croatia is currently participating in five NATO missions with around 270 deployed troops.
The Prime Minister also reaffirmed Croatia’s strong support for Ukraine, stating that Croatia has provided 15 aid packages to date.
(Photo credit: MORH/ J. Šeri)
He emphasised that Ukraine is defending not only its own sovereignty but also European security as a whole. Plenković announced that Croatia will host an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in spring 2027.
Rutte praised Croatia as a reliable and increasingly capable NATO ally, expressing particular admiration for the rapid modernisation of its air force.
(Photo credit: MORH/ J. Šeri)
He also highlighted Croatia’s constructive role in maintaining stability in the Western Balkans.
Welcoming Croatia’s continued support for Ukraine, Rutte stressed that Russia remains the primary threat to NATO and European security.
He noted that the Alliance has significantly strengthened its defence posture along its eastern flank in response.
Broader strategic issues were also discussed, including security challenges in the Arctic region and the importance of Greenland.
(Photo credit: MORH/ J. Šeri)
Both Rutte and Plenković underlined the need to respect the sovereignty of all allied nations and to resolve differences through dialogue within the Alliance.
Discussions touched on Ukraine’s future relationship with NATO, with Rutte acknowledging that allies hold differing views on membership. However, he stressed the shared responsibility to ensure that any future peace settlement prevents renewed Russian aggression.
Plenković reiterated that Croatian troops would not be deployed to Ukraine, while confirming that Croatia would continue to provide political, humanitarian and military assistance in other forms.
Rutte concluded by noting that increased defence spending across NATO has been driven by a renewed focus on collective security, adding that Croatia’s commitment serves as a strong example within the Alliance.
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