Anušić attends the Defence Committee: We are procuring unmanned aerial vehicles and continuing to equip the Croatian Armed Forces

On 25 September 2024 the Defence Committee of the Croatian Parliament, at a closed session, approved the defence procurement requirements.

After the Committee session, Croatia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ivan Anušić emphasized that the defence procurement requirements had been classified as confidential.

In this context, the Minister said: “I can only say that tthe procurement plan includes unmanned aerial vehicles as well further maintenance and logistical support of the Rafale combat aicraft based on the contract signed at the time of purchase. There is a consensus on this issue because it is a clear direction for the further development of the Croatian Armed Forces.”

“The geopolitical circumstances are clear. There are two major conflicts in the Middle East, and there is also one very close to us in Ukraine. Equipping of the armed forces in our neibourhood is a clear message to us that Croatia should do the same, as it has been doing so far,” Minister Anušić said.

The Minister also said that eight Bradley infantry fighting vehicles are in the testing phase and should be made available to the Croatian Armed Forces in December this year.

Committee Chairman Arsen Bauk pointed out: “We were deciding on the procurement of equipment for defence requirements. Two requirements were voted upon – one was approved with ten members voted yes and one member abstained from voting, while the other one was unanimously approved.”

“The consensus was reached among the members of the Committee of both opposition and ruling party because the arguments presented by the Defence Minister and the Chief of the CAF General Staff were convincing. For some, it was more important what the Defence Minister would present, for others what the Chief of the General Staff would say, but they both acted in harmony,” said Committee Chairman Arsen Bauk.

MOD and CAF are ready to conduct basic military training from January 1; now a political decision is awaited

Reflecting on basic military training and when will the MOD start issuing calls for conscription, Minister Anušić emphasized that the MOD and the Croatian Armed Forces are ready to conduct training as early as January 1 next year.

“Both the Prime Minister and the Croatian President have been informed of this matter. At the moment, a political decision is awaited. We are ready to conduct training as soon as the decision is made,” Anušić said.

He also explained that the CAF have the potential to conduct basic military training for 17,000 to 18,000 conscripts per year. Not all of them will participate in the training. Some will probably not pass a medical examination or they will use an appeal to conscience.

“After reaching the age of majority, all young men will enter the recruitment phase and take medical examinations. It is up to them whether they will use an appeal to conscience or serve as ocnscripts,” the Defence Minister Anušić concluded.