State Secretary Galić at the US-Adriatic Charter Defence Ministerial

State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Tomislav Galić participated on Tuesday, 2 December 2025, in Sarajevo at the US-Adriatic Charter (A5) Defence Ministerial, held under the chairmanship of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In addition to the host, Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zukan Helez, the meeting was also attended by Minister of Defence of Albania Pirro Vengu, State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Montenegro Sandra Radević, High Representative of North Macedonia Ana Ežova Kržaloska, and Principal Director for European and NATO Policy at the US Department of War Alton Buland. The Minister of Defence of Kosovo, Ejup Maqedonci also participated as an observer.

The participants exchanged views on resilience mechanisms in the context of current security challenges and discussed measures and activities required to strengthen them at both national and regional levels. The meeting highlighted the need for a comprehensive and coordinated institutional approach to resilience in line with national strategic defence priorities, which is essential given the changing security architecture and key challenges in Southeast Europe.

Emphasis was placed on the further strengthening civil-military cooperation and improving joint response to crisis situations.

State Secretary Tomislav Galić emphasised that the Republic of Croatia has recognised the importance of resilience in two key strategic defence documents: the Defence Strategy and the Long-Term Development Plan of the Croatian Armed Forces 2025-2036.

“Within the A5 initiative, we have successfully implemented the joint cybersecurity training project, and we see potential to further strengthen the regional approach to civil-military cooperation, especially in the area of disaster relief. In this context, our activities will focus on the exchange of experiences, joint workshops, and exercises in response to crisis situations. Croatia possesses both national and international experience in this area, which we intend to share with other member states, especially in providing support to the civilian population during natural and other disasters,” said State Secretary Galić.

He emphasised that enhancing resilience mechanisms at the regional level, as well as the exchange of experiences and joint training in civil-military cooperation, will be a priority Croatia’s chairmanship of the A5 initiative in 2026.

In conclusion, participants reaffirmed their determination to strengthen regional defence and security cooperation and advance common objectives in promoting peace, stability and good neighbourly relations in Southeast Europe.

On the margins of the meeting, State Secretary Galić held a bilateral meeting with Alton Buland, Principal Director for European and NATO Policy at the US Department of War. They discussed the role of the Republic of Croatia as a regional leader in Southeast Europe and highlighted the need for continuous increases in defence funding to modernisethe Croatian Armed Forces. The commitment of both countries to the A5 initiative as an important security and defence instrument for regional cooperation and support of Euro-Atlantic aspirations in Southeast Europe was emphasised.

Since its inception more than two decades ago the US-Adriatic Charter has established itself as an important security and defence initiative, promoting regional cooperation and supporting the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the countries of Southeast Europe.

Members of the US–Adriatic Charter are the United States, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, and North Macedonia. Serbia, Slovenia and Kosovo participate as observers.