Croatian Defence Minister Ivan Anušić says NATO is alive, urges Europe to boost defence spending

At the Dubrovnik Forum, Croatian defence minister Ivan Anušić told a panel that NATO is not dead but faces a challenging moment and must demonstrate its purpose. He cited the alliance’s response to the September 11 attacks under Article 5 and said Europe has now understood the need to develop the capabilities and operational skills required for self‑defence. Anušić fully endorsed U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for European nations to increase defence budgets and warned that the alliance remains essential as a counterweight to Russia’s aggression.

Lithuanian diplomatic chief Kestutis Budrys agreed that abandoning NATO would force Europe to re‑prioritise conventional weapons spending and could not replace the trans‑Atlantic security guarantee. He noted persistent protectionist barriers within the EU defence market. European Investment Bank vice‑president Marko Primorac suggested that defence could be financed at a supranational level, proposing a set share of GDP for joint procurement and urging public budgets to explore private investment as pressures mount.