Bozinovic met NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment

At the beginning of the meeting Minister Bozinovic thanked for the support in the process of transformation and full integration into the NATO, stressing that Croatia, as a small and relatively new member of the Alliance, has been actively contributing to NATO operations and common security.

Bozinovic met Assistant Secretary General Auroy with the current status of national strategic documents and CAF transformation process, with emphasis on the importance of synergy between the national planning and main guidelines of the NATO strategic and planning documents. “These documents need to examine changes in the security environment and provide an overview of the existing defence capabilities, and determine future needs and vision of future development”, Minister Bozinovic said, adding that the above strategic documents define further modernization of land forces, navy as well as further development of combat air force. “We certainly want to retain our capabilities to control airspace and combat aircraft, and we currently consider all options, including multinational approaches, and sustainable ways of financing this issue”, Bozinovic said.

During the meeting they also discussed the implementation of a new NATO Strategic Concept as well as further reform of NATO command structure and agencies, in accordance with the conclusions of the Lisbon Summit. “Croatia strongly supports a common vision of the Alliance as expressed in the last NATO Strategic Concept and NATO reform which we see as one of the essential components of this new vision”, Bozinovic said. NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investments Patrick Auroy in conversation emphasized the importance of considering the possibility of multinational approach to building country’s defence capabilities, or through the concept of so-called “Smart Defence”, in terms of reduced defence budgets. “All nations are faced with the challenges of financial constraints, and thus forcing us to do more together, or find common solutions in the development of necessary defence capabilities”, Auroy said, adding that this process, and cooperation through the “Smart Defence” concept implies strong political support especially when it comes to national decision on retention or abandonment of certain capabilities.

NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment Patrick Auroy also met with Chief of General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Drago Lovric, as well as with representatives of the Ministry of Defence in charge for material resources, equipping and modernization with the discussions held on “Modernization in the time of financial crisis through the concept of ” Smart Defense” from the perspective of small countries and the region”.

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