Croatia demands $2.7 billion in military assets from Montenegro

Croatia has raised significant claims regarding former Yugoslav military assets, potentially threatening Montenegro’s path toward European Union accession. Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman has indicated that certain negotiation chapters are being closed “too quickly,” a move viewed by observers as a potential veto threat.

Zagreb is demanding the return of military property valued at more than $2.7 billion, including warships, submarines, a military hospital, and the school ship “Jadran.” According to Croatian officials, records show a significant shift in the location of naval vessels between 1990 and 1991.

The dispute is compounded by historical tensions stemming from the Yugoslav Wars, including the siege of Dubrovnik and the management of prisoner camps like Morinj. While Montenegro’s Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimović noted that no official claim of this magnitude has been formally submitted, the tension marks a major hurdle for Montenegro’s EU integration efforts.