Minister Krstičević attends NATO Defence Ministers Meeting
The Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević attended NATO defence ministers meeting of 24 and 25 October 2019 – the last meeting preceding the meeting of heads of state and government to be held in London on 3 and 4 December 2019.
NATO defence ministers discussed the defence investments and fairer burden sharing, NATO operations and missions, global security challenges, the situation in NE Syria, NATO forces readiness and hybrid threats.
Minister Krstičević emphasised NATO and the Croatian Armed Forces were guarantor for security of the Republic of Croatia and by extension of economic growth.
In his contribution on defence budgets (one of the main topics at the forthcoming meeting of NATO heads of state) Minister Krstičević said the Alliance expected the member nations to fulfill the obligations, some allies, the Republic of Croatia included, need to increase their defence budget and allocate funds for equipping and modernisation, as they pledged at NATO Summit 2014 in Wales, where the Defence Investment Pledge (DIP) was adopted.
The commitment was further confirmed at NATO Summit 2017 and subsequently at NATO Summit in Brussels in 2018. last year, where the members concluded to present national plans for the implementation of the Defence Investment Pledge (drafting a plan to meet the 2% GDP for defence and allocate 20% of the defence budget for equipping and modernisation).
The Minister stressed that in 2018 the Government of the Republic of Croatia adopted a decision on continued increase in defence budget to achieve the requested 2% GDP and that the allies had to develop national plans for the modalities to realise that by 2024.
On the margins of the defence ministers meeting the Croatian Minister met with new NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoan.
They underlined the importance of the EU-NATO co-operation and addressed the contribution by the Croatian Armed Forces in NATO-led missions and operations.
Deputy Secretary General praised Croatia as a reliable and important ally.