Croatia hosted the 18th edition of the Dubrovnik Forum over the weekend, bringing together around 500 political leaders, diplomats, academics, and experts from across the globe to address pressing geopolitical and economic issues under the theme “Channeling Change.”
Organized by Croatia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the two-day event focused on restoring international trust, bolstering European defense capabilities, enhancing Global North–South cooperation, and exploring the implications of artificial intelligence for Europe’s competitiveness and security.
The Forum opened with remarks by Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković, Slovenian National Assembly President Urška Klakočar Zupančič, and Theodoros Rousopoulos, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. All three called for greater mutual understanding, respect for human dignity, and collective global action.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković took part in the main leaders’ panel and held bilateral meetings with international counterparts. Participants included senior officials from Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the United States, as well as the Secretary-Generals of the OECD and WTO, and representatives from NATO, the United Nations, and the OSCE.
OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann led a session on Croatia’s accession to the organization, stating that the country had made “substantial progress” toward full membership and reaffirmed support for its ongoing reform efforts.
The Forum featured 17 panel discussions and two special events, covering topics including European defense, global trade, digital transformation, AI, Western Balkan integration, the Three Seas Initiative, and Mediterranean cooperation.
A session marking the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Split Declaration — which laid the foundation for peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and preceded the Dayton Agreement — brought together former diplomats and officials to reflect on historical reconciliation and regional cooperation.
A separate ministerial meeting between Ukraine and Southeast European nations reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and democratic future. Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman reiterated that “there is no free and successful Europe without a free and successful Ukraine.” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha joined the meeting alongside counterparts from Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, Greece, Slovenia, Serbia, and Turkey.
In closing remarks, Grlić Radman described the Forum as a “bridge between East and West, North and South,” emphasizing its role in fostering dialogue and navigating global transitions.