Croatia plans to deploy 10 troops in NATO Rapid Reaction Forces

The Croatian government has adopted a draft decision to send a maximum of ten troops to NATO's rapid response force, the government said on Thursday, the day the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.

The draft decision has been sent to President Zoran Milanović for adoption, said the statement.

“Croatian soldiers would participate in the Joint High Readiness Force from the NATO Rapid Response Force,” said Defense Minister Mario Banožić, adding that this would mean that they would be ready within a few days.

The declaration is in line with Croatia's national interests as a responsible member of NATO, which continues to build international credibility and actively contributes to the Alliance's collective defense and security in the Euro-Atlantic area, said the statement.

The decision to establish a rapid reaction force was adopted in 2002 at the NATO summit in Prague, and at the summit in Wales in 2014, the Allies decided to establish a Joint High Readiness Force.

In 2015, Croatian Parliament enabled the engagement of Croatian soldiers in these forces.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday that the Alliance had activated its defense plans to deploy additional forces in its eastern members.

He also announced a virtual summit on Friday to analyze the next steps after Russia's attack on Ukraine.

Source: HRT