Minister Anušić in Brussels: Croatia has expressed interest in taking a leading role in the production and joint procurement of small drones

Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić participated in the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC Defence) in the ministers of defence format and in the meeting of the Steering Board of the European Defence Agency (EDA), which were held today, on 20 May 2025, in Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium.

The topics of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting were military assistance to Ukraine and strengthening the defence preparedness of the European Union members as part of the ReArm Europe plan. “The first topic was further assistance to Ukraine from the European Union’s level. All members are committed to continuing to assist victims of the Russian aggression. Ukraine is showing exceptional resilience and courage in this war of aggression. The second topic was discussed for the first time. It concerns the specific defence capabilities of the European Union members and strengthening of these capabilities as part of the plan to arm Europe.

This means that the joint procurement to achieve these capabilities would be financed from ReArma instruments. In this context, Croatia initially expressed interest and highlighted one of its capabilities in which we could play a leading role in the EU, which is the production of small drones. Given the capacities and capabilities of the domestic defence industry, Croatia expressed interest and highlighted that we could take on a role in the production and joint procurement of the small drones in Europe,” Minister Anušić said. He explained that there are several domestic defence companies that have the ability to produce small drones. The drones would be produced in Croatian companies and would be made entirely from components from the area of Croatia and Europe.

“As early as this year Croatian companies could produce half a million small drones. This figure, if Croatia is in a position to play a leading role in that segment, could increase,” Minister Anušić said.

Drones, namely, are among the projects that could be designated as projects of common interest and whose joint procurement could be financed as part of the ReArm plan.

Joint acquisitions as part of the plan to arm Europe will be encouraged as a form of achieving key defence capabilities of the EU members.

Within this topic, Minister Anušić emphasized that the implementation of the White Paper and the ReArm Plan must be ambitious, fast and pragmatic. Croatia is aware that increased national defence spending is a key element of all efforts. This year, Croatia reached two percent of GDP in defence spending, with plans to further increase it to two and a half percent of GDP by 2027 and three percent by 2030.