Greece and Croatia see strong potential to expand cooperation and strengthen their defence industries, Croatian Defence Minister Ivan Anušić said on Thursday after talks in Athens with his Greek counterpart Nikolaos Dendias.
“I’m pleased that after many years we have held a meeting and established relations at the level of defence ministers… There are many opportunities for joint cooperation. We share a common interest in peace and stability in Southeast Europe, and especially in cooperation and strengthening of our defence industries,” Anušić was quoted as saying in a Croatian Defence Ministry statement.
The ministry said the meeting was the first held at ministerial level between the two countries.
Anušić, on an official visit to Greece with the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Tihomir Kundid, has been holding talks with regional counterparts as part of Croatia’s efforts to promote stability in Southeast Europe and deepen defence industry ties.
The Croatian minister invited Dendias to visit Zagreb and proposed organising a forum to connect defence companies from both countries, exchange experience and explore joint business opportunities.
Anušić presented Croatia’s defence sector as small but high-quality, producing “innovative and unique products” already recognised internationally. He also underlined Zagreb’s ambition to take a leading role within the European Union in the production and procurement of FPV (First Person View) drones.
Talks also covered possible cooperation in military aviation and naval forces. The ministers discussed the war in Ukraine and agreed on the need for continued support for Kyiv, the ministry said.