Croatian Defence Minister Ivan Anusic with his Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz. Photo: MORH/F. Klen.
While Defence Minister Ivan Anusic was on an official visit to Israel on Monday, Croatia’s President, Zoran Milanovic, reiterated that he had previously ordered an end to all cooperation with the Israeli army.
“Due to the unacceptable behaviour of the Israeli army and the unprecedented violation of international humanitarian law [in Gaza], in May last year I ordered the cessation of all cooperation between the Croatian Armed Forces and the Israeli army, which applies to all members of the Croatian Army,” Milanovic said.
Meanwhile, Anusic on Monday met Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, and discussed defence cooperation.
“I thanked Minister Katz for the export licence for the Trophy active self-protection system; the Israeli Ministry of Defence issued this approval in the shortest possible time,” Anusic said after the meeting, the Croatian Defence Ministry reported.
He also stated that Croatia wants stronger defence cooperation with Israel, and “also cooperation between Croatian and Israeli defence companies”.
The Israeli state-of-the-art Trophy protection system is expected to be mounted on the new Leopard tanks that Croatia ordered from Germany in 2024.
The ministry said Anusic would meet representatives of Israeli defence industry companies and officials from the Directorate for International Defence Cooperation, SIBAT.
“As Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia, I once again emphasise that the Armed Forces will not cooperate in any way with the Israeli army in the future,” Milanovic said, adding that he had warned the Prime Minister in a recent telephone conversation that any form of military cooperation with Israel would be unacceptable.
Milanovic called on the government, which is responsible for the procurement of military equipment and weapons, to suspend all planned agreements on the purchase of arms and military equipment from Israel.
Addressing Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, he said it was the Prime Minister’s responsibility to act in accordance with Croatia’s interests, which include cooperation with NATO allies and strengthening the capacities of the domestic defence industry.
Milanovic and the government have long been at odds over defence and foreign policy. Under the constitution, the President is Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, while defence policy, foreign affairs and security services are jointly shaped by the President and the government.
Disputes over institutional competencies have continued for years. The Security and Intelligence Agency, SOA, has not had a permanently appointed director since September 2024, while the appointment of dozens of Croatian ambassadors has also been delayed.