[REVISION HISTORY]

Croatia-Montenegro military asset dispute

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2026-10-10 07:04 UTC → 2026-10-10 07:28 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Croatia has asserted claims for the return of military assets from Montenegro valued at over $2.7 billion. Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman cited documentation and maps from 1990 and 1991 to support the demand for property including submarines, warships, a military hospital, and the school ship ‘Jadran’. Montenegrin Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimović responded that no formal request for these assets has been delivered to his ministry and noted the issue was not among the topics he inherited. He expressed a desire to address obligations while protecting Montenegrin interests, urging that bilateral disputes remain separate from Montenegro’s European Union accession negotiations. As the situation progressed, concerns grew that the dispute could impact Montenegro’s path toward EU integration. Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović has argued that EU accession should not be conditioned on unresolved bilateral issues. On October 7, commissions from both nations convened in Zagreb to begin formal negotiations regarding the succession of former Yugoslav military property. The first meeting of joint commissions was led by Grlić Radman and Montenegrin Defense Minister Dragan Krapović. A central point of contention remains the ownership of the training ship ‘Jadran’, with Croatia seeking its return to Split while Montenegro asserts legal ownership based on historical circumstances and succession agreements. ~~On October 9, diplomats led by Grlić Radman and Montenegrin Defense Minister Dragan Krapović met in Zagreb to continue discussions.~~ Beyond the ‘Jadran’, Croatia is seeking resolutions to other open issues, including compensation for Croatian prisoners at the Morinj ~~camp and~~ camp, the return of property to Croatian citizens in Montenegro. Both sides expressed a commitment to constructive dialogue and the review of documentation to find a sustainable solution. Recent discussions have expanded the scope of the negotiations to include Montenegro, maritime border ~~demarcation~~ demarcation, and the fate of missing persons from the 1990s wars. While Croatia continues to support Montenegro’s path toward European Union membership, it emphasizes that resolving these bilateral issues is essential for the accession process.

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