Grlić Radman: We are showing stability and a desire to strengthen our defense and position in the world

“Croatia's recent foreign policy activities are showing stability and a desire to strengthen its defense and international position,” said Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman in Zagreb on Sunday, speaking about the government's intensive diplomatic activities.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković will visit Paris and Berlin with a political and economic delegation early next week, and on that occasion contracts for the purchase of 18 French Caesar howitzers and 44 German Leopard tanks will be signed.

Grlić Radman recalled that the Prime Minister, in addition to this week's meeting with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni in Rome, also met with Pope Leo XIV, Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, and received Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden in Zagreb.

He added that he himself returned from the United States this week, where he had numerous meetings with the aim of strengthening the country's transatlantic dimension.

“Croatia is showing how stable it is, how it wants to ensure the security of the country and strengthen its international position,” said Gordan Grlić Radman at a press conference in front of the building of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in Zagreb.

He added that after the Prime Minister's participation in the European and African Union summit in November, an intensive foreign policy tour of the most important capitals of the European Union member states continues with visits to France and Germany.

“We are going to both countries together with a strong economic delegation, business people. We are strengthening our presence both politically and defensively and economically,” said the Croatian head of diplomacy.

As some of the 40 or so Croatian companies that will be in the delegation in Germany, Grlić Radman mentioned Končar, HEP, Đuro Đaković, Podravka and Infobip.

“The goal of our departure is, in addition to strengthening ties with our allies and strategic partners, to contribute to greater visibility and strengthening exports of Croatian companies,” he emphasized.

He said that both in Paris and in Berlin, there will certainly be talk of peace negotiations, or the creation of preconditions for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

“Croatia has also initiated the issue of the future of the Western Balkans with a special emphasis on Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Grlić Radman.

The Action Plan for Strategic Partnership will also be signed in Paris, the third in a row after French President Emmanuel Macron and Plenković signed the Strategic Partnership Agreement in Zagreb in 2021, under which France supported Croatia in several areas, including entry into the Schengen area and the Eurozone, which Croatia has achieved, and Croatia's membership in the OECD, which has yet to be achieved.

“The Prime Minister will meet with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann in Paris,” said Grlić Radman.

Source: HRT