Defence Minister meets with SACT

Minister Krstičević and General Mercier affirmed the excellent co-operation between the Croatian Ministry of Defence and the Allied Command Transformation. Bidding welcome to SACT to Croatia and Split Minister Krstičević briefed him on the Ministry’s activities in the past two months, highlighting the adoption of the new National Security Strategy, the drafting of the National Security System Act, aimed at improving the co-ordination of all institutions to identify,prevent and timely respond to the threats in the security and defence sectors.
The Minister underlined the engagement of the Croatian Armed Forces assisting the civilian community fighting the fires along the coast of Croatia and the ongoing efforts assisting the flood-hit towns and villages affected by the fires, and also informed the SACT on the Croatian Armed Forces’ contribution to the UN-, NATO and the EU-led operations and missions.
General Mercier  briefed Minister Krstičević on the current projects and activities of the ACT and underlined the need for better  coordination  between NATO’s Headquarters and command  structure. The Croatian experiences with the national security system are useful in this regard, said General Mercier, who announced a reorganisation of ACT and of the overall NATO command structure, aimed at making it leaner and more efficient, which will lead to an analysis of the strategic forces, building of new capabilities and conduct of exercises and training activities.
Minister Krstičević pledged support from the Republic of Croatia for the reform within NATO and stated he believed it would be successfully completed. The Minister underlined that the complex challenges faced by the international  community and democratic  world  and the radically changed security paradigm, called for new structures and adaptation at all levels commensurate to the times, risks and needs, to enable a faster and more efficient response to the risks and threats.
General Mercier  was on an official visit to Split, where he attended the formal marking of the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the Croatian Navy and met with the President of the Republic of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović  and the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces General Mirko Šundov.