Milanović: We need a new generation of soldiers, be careful with military procurement

President Zoran Milanović said that the Croatian Army was created without international support, that the Republic of Croatia is a loyal member of NATO, but it must watch its own interests. He stressed the need to restore military training because without reserves and people, investments in defense lose their meaning. He also referred to international law, criticizing the political abuse of indictments against Croatian commanders from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Zoran Milanović gave a speech at the ceremony held on the occasion of Armed Forces Day. In his introduction, he recalled the uniqueness of the experience of creating the Croatian Army.

“The Croatian Army was created on its own, outside the multilateral framework, outside international rules that were actually against Croatia arming itself,” said Milanović, adding that persistence, cunning, and good military and political leadership enabled victory in the Homeland War and later access to Western European integration.

We believe in NATO, but we also have our own interests

Speaking about Croatia's position in NATO, the President stressed that Croatia has been a loyal member since day one and reminded that our soldiers are participating in missions in Poland and Lithuania.

“Article 5 of the agreement clearly speaks about the response to an attack on one of the members, including military force,” said Milanović, adding that Croatia takes its obligations seriously, but it must also take into account its own interests in critical situations.

We need a new generation of soldiers

The President referred to the importance of training and the return of military service.

“The local elections will now end in a few days, so now we will talk about it more openly and approach it even more actively. This is something that Croatia needs. We are almost out of reserve. The last military training, so to speak, the last conscripts left Croatian barracks in 2008. For the last 17 years, Croatian young men have not been trained for the army. The number of voluntary military conscripts is so small, and with the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in this final phase it has fallen to forensic levels, that something had to be done and this is the way within the constitutional limits,” Milanović said.

He stressed that Croatia is investing in modern equipment, but that without people, these systems have no real value.

Be careful with military procurement and budgets

Milanović called for caution in spending defense funds, emphasizing that it should be done in a commercial and thoughtful manner.

“Croatia needs modern defense systems. My advice, because I do not participate in direct or indirect decision-making - cautiously, prudently, cunningly, commercially. For some things, and here I agree with the minister - the price may not even matter. For others, we need to see how much we need them and what the price is. When we talk about 2 percent of GDP, that's a fetish. Today, that's a figure that is becoming smaller and smaller. What is GDP after all, if a coffee in Beijing costs a euro and in New York seven euros? Quality and efficiency are the same or similar. There is no amount that cannot be poured into defense. We need to ask ourselves - what do we really need and how much does it cost,” he said.

Indictments 30 years after the war must stop

In the final part of his speech, Milanović referred to the indictments against Croatian war commanders coming from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“After 30 years, new indictments are coming based on the verdict against six people from Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is political abuse,” said Milanović.

He wondered how Croatia could support Bosnia and Herzegovina's European integration, while at the same time Croatian officers from that period are being prosecuted.

“You don't have to be a merchant to understand that this is not how it works. Enough,” concluded the president.

Source: HRT