Plenković in Munich: Croatia calls for unity among democracies amid shifting global order

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said Friday in Munich that Croatia wants all nations committed to democracy and a rules-based global order to stand together, addressing growing strain between Europe and the United States during President Donald Trump’s second term.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Plenković highlighted concerns about transatlantic relations. He noted that recent U.S. actions — including intervention in Venezuela, trade tariffs on allies, and proposals like annexing Greenland — have unsettled traditional alliances and raised questions about NATO’s future.

Plenković said European partners continue to seek cooperation with the U.S., but added that how this partnership evolves remains uncertain. “The world is changing,” he told reporters, noting multiple crises, wars and “serious shortcomings” in the current international order. “That is why it is so important that those who are committed to democracy and to the principles of the post-World War II international order remain on the same side,” he said.

Transatlantic ties — long central to the Munich conference — are under unprecedented stress this year, as European leaders focus on strengthening their own defenses while maintaining relations with an increasingly isolationist U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the moment as defining in a rapidly changing world.

Plenković also held a bilateral meeting with Rubio, where he stressed continued strong defense cooperation and broader bilateral ties. He highlighted U.S. support in equipping the Croatian army as it transitions from Eastern to Western technology and discussed cooperation in energy, including the expanded capacity of Croatia’s LNG terminal in Omišalj, where most shipments come from the United States.