Minister Anušić in Warsaw: ReArm is a great opportunity, but we must simplify bureaucracy

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić and Chief of the CAF General Staff LTG Tihomir Kundid participated today at the international security conference Defence24Days, which is being held in Warsaw. Minister Anušić participated in the panel New Foundations of the Defence System. ReArm Europe – an opportunity for Military Independence.

In addition to Minister Anušić, the panelists included the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of Poland Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Lithuania Dovilė Šakalienė. Minister Anušić and General Kundid are on official visit to the Republic of Poland from today to Thursday, during which the Minister will hold a bilateral meeting with Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz.

The main topics of the panel were related to the security situation in Europe after the Russian aggression on Ukraine, the efforts of countries to modernize their armed forces, as well as the ReArm Europe plan and Poland’s experiences in modernizing its army. Poland, in fact, allocates mostly to defence in relation to GDP, as much as 4.7 percent. Minister Anušić said that Croatia is very seriously developing and modernizing its Armed Forces, that this year we have reached two percent of GDP in defence allocations, and that by 2030 we will allocate three percent of the GDP to defence: “We have just completed a squadron of Rafale fighter jets. In September, we will receive six modern, armed Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles, we are acquiring the most modern Leopard 2A8 tanks, the HIMARS missile system, and soon a medium-range air defence system and a corvette…”

The Minister emphasized that Poland, in terms of defence spending and the most serious approach to strengthening defence capacities, can be a role model for all allies. When it comes to ReArm, he emphasized that the European Armaments Plan is a great opportunity to strengthen European defence capacities as well as for the development of the Croatian defence industry, which the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Ministry of Defence are systematically working on. He also emphasized that this plan must not remain just a pretty story, but a concrete project for creating European security independence.

“In order for European countries to arm themselves effectively and within a reasonable time frame as part of the ReArm Europe plan, it is necessary to simplify bureaucracy – both at the European and national levels. We are in a race against time and have a responsibility for the security of our countries and nations, which is why we must speed up the armament processes. The processes of acquiring weapons are complicated; new weapons take a long time to arrive, and prices are significantly higher than they were before the Russian aggression on Ukraine due to deteriorated security situation,” Minister Anušić said. He highlighted Croatia’s role in Southeast Europe. He described it as a potentially unsafe area and stressed that its stability is a priority for Croatia.

“Croatia has experience from the Homeland War, which we do not want to repeat. Our goal is a stable and secure environment, and that means peace and security in Southeast Europe. Croatia sees Poland, with which we have excellent bilateral relations, as a great ally and partner with whom we can develop joint projects when it comes to development of the defence industry,” Minister Anušić said.