Milanović and Plenković clash over NATO

President Zoran Milanović and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković traded sharp criticism over Croatia's role in NATO on Wednesday.

Representing Croatia at the NATO summit in Ankara, Milanović voiced concern over the alliance's growing emphasis on higher defense spending and increased arms production.

A longtime critic of some NATO policies, the president warned against what he described as escalating "warmongering rhetoric."

"There has been an escalation in warmongering rhetoric that is unbridled and will lead nowhere. The most honest person here was President Trump. He is here as a determined arms dealer and is representing American interests in that way. That is perfectly clear."

Asked what Croatia's position should be, Milanović said the country should remain a reliable NATO ally while continuing to protect its own national interests.

"We should be loyal and fair to our NATO allies and refrain from doing anything behind their backs. But at the same time, we have to closely monitor how things are developing and look after our own interests, including not participating in the Coalition of the Willing."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković responded to Milanović's remarks during the launch of Rheinmetall Unmanned Vehicles in Zagreb, a new joint venture between German defense manufacturer Rheinmetall and Croatian robotics company DOK-ING.

Plenković described the president's approach to NATO as isolationist and damaging to Croatia's interests.

"It's easy for me, as prime minister, to deal with the fact that he doesn't have the understanding, knowledge or desire to participate. But it is a major problem for the military. Thanks to his peace-oriented orders, contrived from a wartime perspective, the military is being kept in the dark about the most serious defense and security issue in Europe right now."

The prime minister was referring to Milanović's repeated objections to European support for Ukraine, as well as the president's recent decision to bar members of the Croatian Armed Forces from taking part in France's Bastille Day military parade on July 14.

The latest exchange underscores the ongoing disagreement between Croatia's president and prime minister over the country's role within NATO and its response to the war in Ukraine.