Meeting held between Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ivan Anušić and Hungarian Ambassador Csaba Demcsák

On Wednesday, December 20, 2023, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ivan Anušić had a meeting with Hungarian Ambassador Csaba Demcsák at the Ministry of Defence.

At the meeting, it was pointed out that Croatia and Hungary are partner countries with well-developed economic and defence cooperation. In terms of defence cooperation, the meeting participants agreed that it takes place in all functional areas of the armed forces and within the framework of joint engagement in international organizations, missions and operations.

“Hungary is our neighbour and an important ally, which is evident in the rich bilateral defence cooperation that is carried out in numerous functional areas, from the cooperation of air, special and ground forces, in the field of logistics and science, as well as military education. I look forward to our future dialogues and joint efforts to ensure a safe future for both our countries”, Minister Anušić said.

Minister Anušić and Ambassador Demcsák commended the excellent cooperation of the Croatian and Hungarian Armed Forces in the Multinational Division Centre (MND-C) in Hungary, the Multinational Special Aviation Training Centre in Zemunik, and the NATO Enhanced Vigilance Activities in Hungary as basic forms of cooperation within NATO. In addition, it was pointed out that there are other multilateral forms of cooperation, primarily within the framework of the Central European Defence Cooperation (CEDC).

The meeting participants also discussed current security challenges in the world, primarily the situation in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, but also the consequences that Russian aggression against Ukraine had on the European security architecture, recent trends in defence and the capacities of the defence industry. At the same time, Minister Anušić emphasised Croatia’s position to support the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and the right of the State of Israel to self-defence. In the context of the area in the vicinity of Croatia, he added: “South Eastern Europe remains our priority. Security challenges outside that area, as well as those within it, continuously affect the stability of the Croatian environment. Croatia will continue to consistently advocate for the stability and Euro-Atlantic future of all countries in the region”. In this sense, he added that in order to ensure stability and security, the Croatian Armed Forces together with Hungarian soldiers, participate in the KFOR operation in the Republic of Kosovo, which is extremely important for the stability of the entire region.

The meeting was also attended by Chief of the CAF General Staff Admiral Robert Hranj, and the Hungarian Defence Attaché Colonel Zsolt Ottó Hajgató.