Croatia and Slovenia signed a declaration on Friday to deepen military cooperation, with Croatian Defence Minister Ivan Anušić calling it “a new chapter” in already strong defence relations between the two neighbours.
Anušić and Slovenian Defence Minister Borut Sajovic signed the agreement in Zagreb. It is intended to strengthen cooperation between their armed forces and defence industries to “work better and more effectively,” Anušić said.
He noted the declaration was similar to one Croatia signed with Albania and Kosovo in March and added that Bulgaria was also in talks to join the initiative. The two sides are preparing concrete proposals to be discussed at an arms fair in Ljubljana in October.
Sajovic said global security challenges required deeper regional cooperation, stressing that Croatia and Slovenia bore “great responsibility” for stability in the Western Balkans, particularly in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The signing followed a virtual meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing,” after which French President Emmanuel Macron said 26 countries were ready to deploy troops to Ukraine if a ceasefire were reached.
Anušić reiterated Croatia would not send soldiers to Ukraine, though it would continue supporting Kyiv in other ways. Sajovic said Slovenia would only consider sending troops as part of a potential United Nations mission, which would require approval by the Security Council, where Russia and China hold veto power.