Minister Anušić Attends DIMDEX 2026 Defence Exhibition in Doha
“I briefed the Qatari Minister of Defence on the capabilities and strengths of the Croatian defence industry,” says Anušić
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić, Director of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Major General Denis Tretinjak, and a delegation of the Croatian Navy led by the Commander of the Croatian Navy, Rear Admiral Damir Dojkić, are undertaking a two-day official visit to the State of Qatar on the occasion of the International Maritime Defence Exhibition DIMDEX 2026.
On the margins of the exhibition in Doha, Minister Anušić met today, 19 January 2026, with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Minister Anušić is visiting Qatar at the invitation of his Qatari counterpart.
Prior to the opening of DIMDEX 2026, the Minister of Defence also met with His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar.
Minister Anušić also attended the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Croatian technology company Orqa and Barzan Holdings, Qatar’s leading defence and security company.
DIMDEX is organised by the Qatari Armed Forces and has developed into a major international event, bringing together leading defence industry companies, government delegations, and senior naval commanders.
Croatian companies Olimp Defense Group and Shadow Nautics are also participating in DIMDEX 2026.
The bilateral meeting between the two Ministers of Defence provided an opportunity for the Croatian minister to highlight the potential for cooperation between the Croatian defence industry and the Qatari Armed Forces. The ministers also exchanged views on the security and geopolitical situation in the Middle East, as well as in Southeast Europe.
“Croatian defence companies‒particularly those whose products are recognised on the global market, can ‒ through their production capacity, expertise, and high standards of quality, serve as valuable partners to the Qatari Armed Forces. I briefed the Qatari Minister of Defence on the capabilities and strengths of the Croatian defence industry, as the Ministry of Defence and the Government of the Republic of Croatia consistently do, because a strong and developed Croatian industry also means stronger national security and reduced reliance on foreign military equipment manufacturers,” Minister Anušić said.
He particularly highlighted the company Orqa, which, through the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with Qatar’s Barzan Holdings, expressed the intention to reach an agreement on a partnership for the localised production of Orqa drones in Qatar.
“Orqa is one of the Croatian technology companies steadily establishing its presence in numerous markets across Europe and the world. Modern armed forces and contemporary military operations are increasingly reliant on FPV drones, and Orqa’s drones are distinctly European‒indeed Croatian‒product,” Minister Anušić concluded.
