Meeting of the Minister Banožić with Polish Defence Minister

Defence Minister Mario Banožić with delegation is paying a two-day official visit to the Republic of Poland, on Monday 10 January and on Tuesday 11 January 2022.

On the first day of the visit, Defence Minister Mario Banožić had a meeting with Defence Minister of the Republic of Poland Mariusz Blaszczak.

At this meeting Minister Banožić spoke about excellent bilateral cooperation with the Republic of Poland, a strategic ally and partner in the area of defence cooperation. They talked about security situation in Eastern Europe and about situation in our neighbourhood. Both ministers took the view that dialogue and diplomacy are the right way to pacification of the situation.

“In addition to cooperation within NATO and the EU, we have excellent bilateral cooperation, particularly of the special forces, military police and logistics”, Minister Banožić said and emphasised the importance of military education as well. Part of the Croatian Army members improved their knowledge and skills in Poland and conversion of the Croatian Defence Academy into “Dr Franjo Tuđman” Defence and Security University has opened additional possibilities for schooling members of the Polish Armed Forces and for betterment of the cooperation in the field of education.

“Regarding cooperation of the special forces, I particularly emphasize the Multinational Special Aviation Training Centre (MSAP TC) in Zadar. Polish side has provided support to operation of the MSAP TC by sending instructors for special air operations”, Minister Banožić said.

The Minister also stressed the importance of the permanent presence of the Croatian Armed Forces in the Republic of Poland within NATO activity of the Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP). Since October 2017, Croatia has contributed to the Battle Group under command of the USA with a battery of mobile multiple rocket launchers. Croatian Army is currently present with 80 members and since 2017 a total of 635 members of the Croatian Army have taken part in activity of the eFP. Croatian Army will continue to provide support to allies in this area and from the year 2023 with a battery PzH 2000.

Defence Minister of the Republic of Poland Mariusz Blaszczak spoke highly about excellent cooperation between Croatia and Poland within NATO Alliance and other initiatives. “Bilateral cooperation that is implemented within exercises of the armies of the two states is excellent and it can set an example to other states“, Defence Minister Blaszczak said. He emphasized that the two countries will also continue to foster cooperation in the field of education as it creates better interoperability within NATO Alliance.

Within this official visit Defence Minister Banožić with delegation laid a wreath and lit a candle by the Grave of the Unknown Warrior and signed the Tribute Memory Book.