The Defence Minister receives an inagural visit from U.S. Ambassador Valls Noyes

The Ambassador and the Defence Minister stressed excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, particularly in the area of defence and security. Minister Buljević stressed that the U.S. were Croatia’s most important strategic partner, particularly with respect to the contribution to the regional and global security and briefed Ambassador Noyes with the upcoming priorities of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Ministry of Defence related to the defence sector.

Discussing the defence cooperation as one of the areas of most intensive bilateral cooperation the two sides agreed on the need for continued and expanded cooperation in the area of defence capabilities and modernisation of the Croatian Armed Forces, primarily through the projects of procurement of weapons systems, the development of interoperability and the joint exercises and training.

Croatian Defence Minister Buljević expressed the belief the cooperation would address the strategic cooperation within NATO as well.

The two sides also exchanged the views on the priorities and the prospects for the future cooperation, joint efforts in operations and missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo and in combating radical Islam and ISIL. They emphasised the importance of acting jointly towards the enhanced stability in South Europe through the assistance to NATO aspirants and the Eurotlantic perspective of the region.

Ambassador Valls Noyes reiterated the commitment to joint goals and commended the high-level quality of cooperation with the Republic of Croatia.

The meeting was an occasion to discuss other forms of bilateral co-operation and the strengthening of the co-operation with the Minnesota National Guard, in the 20th anniversary of the State Partnership Program.

Along with the Ambassador Valls Noyes, the meeting was attended by the U.S. Defense Attaché to the Republic of Croatia, Colonel  Douglas Faherty and the 1st Secretary of the Embassy, Aron Schwoebel.