Minister Anušić Presents Capabilities of the Croatian Defence Industry to Israeli Minister of Defence

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić is on an official visit to the State of Israel, where he met today in Tel Aviv with the Israeli Minister of Defence, Israel Katz.

The purpose of the bilateral meeting was to strengthen cooperation between the Croatian and Israeli defence industries, as well as to exchange experience in the field of advanced Israeli defence technologies, particularly the Trophy Active Protection System developed by Israeli company Rafael. This system forms an integral part of the German Leopard 2A8 main battle tank.Croatia is acquiring 44 of these tanks as part of a historic modernisation programme of the Croatian Armed Forces.

Following the meeting, Minister Anušić stated: “I thanked Minister Katz for the export licence for the Trophy Active Protection System, which the Israeli Ministry of Defence issued in the shortest possible time. We aim to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation with Israel at the level of our respective Ministries of Defence, as well as to enhance cooperation between Croatian and Israeli defence companies. I presented the capabilities of the Croatian defence industry to Minister Katz. Although not large, it is highly technologically advanced and innovative. The Ministry of Defence and the Government of the Republic of Croatia are strengthening the Croatian defence industry and, naturally, we wish to promote it beyond Croatia’s borders.” He emphasised that this cooperation is being conducted at the level of the respective Ministries of Defence and the Government of the Republic of Croatia.

“Representatives of the Croatian Armed Forces are not part of this visit to Israel, nor are they participating in these meetings. However, the Government of the Republic of Croatia and I, as Minister of Defence, will continue to develop cooperation with the State of Israel in the interest of the Croatian Armed Forces,” Minister Anušić said.

The Minister added that there is significant potential for cooperation, particularly between Croatian and Israeli defence companies.

The two Ministers also discussed the situation in Southeast Europe and the Middle East. Minister Anušić highlighted that Croatia has consistently supported Israel’s right to self-defence and has condemned the actions of Hamas and Iran.

During his visit to the Kirya complex, Minister Anušić was presented with the capabilities of leading Israeli defence industry companies.

Tomorrow, on the third day of his visit, Minister Anušić will visit the Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Centre, where he will pay tribute to the Jewish people who suffered during the Second World War.