PM speaks at 18th Dubrovnik Forum

The 18th Dubrovnik Forum - held this year under the slogan "Channelling the Change" - wrapped up on Saturday. 

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković spoke at a panel discussion and emphasized the need for global peace through strength and unity.

"The NATO Summit in the Hague with its decisions for the allies to increase defense expenditure to 3.5 percent of GDP by 2035, plus an additional 1.5 percent for related defense investments that may also have civilian purposes, is unprecedented," said the prime minister.

Plenković underlined that the increased spending would have a positive affect on the state budget as well as boost the production of military equipment and improve the country's own defense capabilities.

He also stressed the importance of improving coordination and interoperability among allies. At the same time, Plenković pointed at the example of Ukraine, saying: "I don't think there is anybody in Europe who believes that we are secure under the umbrella of Article 5 and the collective security agreement as we have thought for many decades."

Discussions naturally focused on the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sibiha said the "recipe how to stop this war" was very simple: "engagement and leadership of the USA".

"We welcome President Trump's efforts to end this war and to raise the price for Russia to continue further aggression against Ukraine, namely sanctions, further isolation and frozen assets," added the minister.

Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani touched upon the "difficult moment in the Middle East".

"This is not good for our further growth, so it is important for us to work hard to achieve a cease fire in Gaza and to achieve an agreement between the USA, Israel and Iran on the nuclear issue. The solution should be, for example, no nuclear weapons, but with the development of research for civilian nuclear," said the Italian minister.

More than 400 senior officials from numerous countries and organizations attended the two-day international conference.