Serbia and Croatia clash over Operation Storm anniversary

The anniversary of Operation Storm has triggered renewed political tensions between Belgrade and Zagreb. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić criticized the 1995 Croatian military operation, labeling it a "crime against Serbs," while also referencing Serbia's current military buildup.

In response, Croatian officials dismissed Vučić's remarks as provocations. However, political analysts, including former diplomat Božo Kovačević, noted that the Croatian government faces internal pressure from extreme right-wing elements. Kovačević suggested that the ruling HDZ party struggles with its identity, balancing its role as the guardian of the Homeland War with the promotion of symbols associated with the WWII-era Ustaše regime.

Parallel to these diplomatic frictions, discussions regarding ethnic identity continue in the region. During a campaign in Republika Srpska, Vučić echoed Milorad Dodik's stance that there are no Bosnian or Croatian Serbs, only Serbs, arguing that political borders do not change ethnic identity.