NATO Secretary General Rutte, Prime Minister Plenković, Minister Anušić and General Kundid Visit the Croatian Air Force

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, accompanied by Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić, and the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid, visited the Croatian Air Force on Monday, 12 January 2026.

At “Colonel Marko Živković” Barracks in Pleso, NATO Secretary General Rutte toured the Croatian Air Force’s Rafale multirole combat aircraft, UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, and viewed the displayed Bayraktar unmanned aerial systems.

The visit provided an opportunity to present the modern capabilities of the Croatian Air Force, reflecting the results of historic strategic investments by the Government of the Republic of Croatia in the modernisation of the Croatian Armed Forces. These investments have enabled the Air Force to field Rafale multirole combat aircraft, UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, and Bayraktar unmanned aerial systems.

NATO Secretary General Rutte, accompanied by the Prime Minister Plenković, Minister Anušić and Lieutenant General Kundid, also visited the Rafale quick reaction alert (QRA) pair.

Since the beginning of 2026, the Croatian Air Force has conducted the surveillance and protection of Croatian airspace with Rafale multirole combat aircraft, thereby reaffirming the Republic of Croatia’s status as a reliable and credible Ally, firmly committed to NATO’s collective security.

The Government delegation also included the Head of the Prime Minister’s Office, Zvonimir Frka-Petešić, and the Prime Minister’s Special Adviser, Damir Krstičević.