Croatia expresses concern over Serbia's military armament

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has expressed serious concern regarding what he described as an “extraordinary” armament process in Serbia. He characterized Serbia's recent military acquisitions as a “shopping spree” involving various countries across the globe.

Plenković stated that Croatia is closely monitoring Belgrade's military developments through its Defense Council and National Security Council. He noted that as a member of the EU and NATO, Croatia is also strengthening its own defense capabilities, having tripled its defense budget over the last decade to serve as a deterrent.

Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anušić added that Serbia has been intensively arming itself for approximately ten years with “very serious” and offensive military systems. Anušić criticized Belgrade's rhetoric as “aggressive” and “hostile,” drawing parallels to the conflicts of the 1990s. He specifically mentioned concerns regarding Serbian claims over Kosovo's territory and reports of advanced weaponry, such as hypersonic missiles with ranges up to 400 kilometers, as factors prompting Zagreb to seek a balance of power in the region.