Parade: Everything went off without a single misstep, says Minister Anušić

Minister of Defense Ivan Anušić is satisfied with the military parade marking the 30th anniversary of Operations Storm that was held in the capital on Thursday, saying that everything went "without a single error, misstep or omission".

“I was certainly feeling emotional and impressed. It is not every day that we have this kind of a parade. This parade was special, big, we showed a lot, but not everything we have, Minister Anušić told HRT.

“Our country has withstood many storms and gales and survived. It will live on and be here forever,” he added.

He said preparations for the parade began back in November 2024.

“Every vehicle, every soldier, had to undergo specific training. It was not easy to coordinate all this. Thank Godness, it was worth it,” said Anušić, who joined the military when he way only 17 years old.

“I had only one thing on my mind: to defend Croatia and the Croatian people. I wasn't sure if I would survive the war, let alone make it to 2025 and be here on the podium, organizing this parade, as the Minister of Defense. I will keep working as long as I have the backing to do this," he said.

The parade featured Croatia’s most modern military weaponry, including FPV drones, which are being used in the war in Ukraine.

“No matter how small they may seem, they are extremely deadly, efficient, cheap and a Croatian product,” said Anušić.

He is convinced that the military parade will have a positive impact on young people and their awareness of the military.

“We have been in an active campaign for a year or two, trying to bring the Armed Forces closer to young people, to connect the civilian and military components, so that people do not have aversion to the army, and we are succeeding in this,” he said.

Croatia is about to introduce mandatory military service.

“We believe that in the next two or three years we will have many more active military personnel, ready and fully armed with Western technology, NATO standards, and prepared for the future,” Anušić concluded.