President comments on backroom negotiations with Israel

President Zoran Milanović on Tuesday addressed reports that Defence Minister Ivan Anušić was negotiating with Israel over the procurement of the so-called David's Sling missile defense system.

"If the minister or anyone else wants to enter into this kind of arrangement, it would require cooperation between the Croatian Armed Forces and the Israeli military. This is not something the fire department or civil protection can handle-it demands coordination of personnel, operational units and the entire command structure. That will not happen," Milanović said.

He also criticised the timing of the talks, noting they were taking place while Israel was supplying arms to Serbia, which Croatia views as a security concern.

Milanović pointed out that Serbia had already purchased a long-range multiple rocket launcher system from Israel, describing it as "an even more offensive weapon" than previously reported. He questioned why Croatian officials were seeking closer defence ties with Israel while it was simultaneously arming a country they consider an adversary.

"That same ally, from whom the minister wants to buy David's Sling, is not only supplying Serbia with advanced weapons but also helping integrate them into a 'kill chain' as system integrators," he warned.

He also criticised Prime Minister Andrej Plenković for not raising the issue in his communication with NATO. "Cooperation requires trust, and I do not trust someone who arms my challenger," Milanović said, adding that he cannot understand why others "fail to see-or choose to ignore-this contradiction."