Minister Krstičević to visit the United States

Minister Krstičević and Ambassador Valls Noyes affirmed te excellent bilateral cooperation  between the United States, particularly in the domains of security and defence, and underlined the importance of the Minister’s upcoming visit to the United States.

Minister Krstičević will meet with the U.S. Secretary of Defense, James Mattis and other senior officials. The Minister is to visit the Lockheed  Martin Corporation, and will meet with its Vicepresident for international co-operation. In ACT (Norfolk)  the Minister will be welcomed by SACT, General Denis Mercier.

Minister Krstičević is to discuss the joint contribution to the international security in the crisis spots and the efforts invested in fighting the terrorism.
Joint activities in NATO, the security and political situation in the Croatian neighbourhood  and in south Europe, the expansion of the bilateral defence co-operation and the continued U.S: assistance and support to the development of the Croatian defence capabilities. The Minister will also meet with the Croatians living in the United States.

The visit of Minister Krstičević to the United States, including the visit to the Department of Defense, testifies of the excellent relations of two strategic allies and partners who share the common interest, values and the responsibility for the global security, including the Coalition to Counter ISIL. Alongside other allies the Republic of Croatia makes its infrastructure available for use in the international counterterrorist efforts. The respective activities are carried out in compliance with the bilateral agreements agreements and in synergy with other members of the Coalition.

The Republic of Croatia highly apprreciates the United States’ assistance through donations of equipment and weapons, education and training programmes, the strategic airlift to the international missions and operstions area of operations and other defence co-operation activities. The support from the U.S., in the value of ca 500 mil USD, has been crucial for the development of the Croatian defence capabilities Furthermore, both Croatia and the United States being  committed to the welfare of the defenders and veterans and their families, Croatia is assisting with the search of the remains of  the crew of the B-24 Tulsamerican aircraft, crashing in the aquatory of the island of Vis on 17 December 1944.