Croatia boosts defense budget to 3% of GDP by 2030
Croatia will allocate 3 percent of its GDP to defense by 2030, stated Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anuszić while opening the Adriatic Defense and Aerospace Conference (ASDA) in Zagreb.
"This year, Croatia has reached 2 percent of its GDP in defense spending. By 2027, it plans to reach 2.5 percent, and by 2030, 3 percent," emphasized the minister.
"Many countries have started to seriously consider security and prepare for scenarios currently threatening Europe," he added.
Anuszić noted that Zagreb will "intensively develop its own defense sector in cooperation with allies."
Our strategy is to support local companies that develop new technologies and knowledge. We also want to become self-sufficient in terms of some or most of the equipment and weapons our army will use," he remarked.
The ASDA 2025 fair, opened on Tuesday, will continue until Thursday. As part of it, 235 companies from 27 countries will present their weapons, equipment, and technology.
Revitalized military agreements
In recent weeks, two military agreements—Croatia with Albania and Kosovo and Serbia with Hungary—have revitalized the debate on security and armament issues in the Balkans.
As part of these agreements, both blocs agreed to deepen military cooperation. While commenting on the first agreement, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić assessed that "it has initiated a new arms race in the region."
