Croatian drone technology enters strategic defence partnership with Qatar

(Photo credit: MORH/ J. Šeri)

Croatia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Ivan Anušić, is undertaking a two-day official visit to the State of Qatar, coinciding with the international maritime defence exhibition DIMDEX 2026, currently taking place in Doha.

The Croatian delegation includes Director of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia, Major General Denis Tretinjak, and representatives of the Croatian Navy led by Commander Rear Admiral Damir Dojkić.

On the margins of the exhibition, Minister Anušić met with Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

The visit is taking place at the invitation of the Qatari defence minister.

(Photo credit: MORH/ J. Šeri)

Ahead of the opening of DIMDEX 2026, Minister Anušić also met with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, underscoring the high level of bilateral engagement between the two countries.

A key focus of the visit was the promotion of Croatia’s defence industry and the exploration of opportunities for cooperation with the Qatari Armed Forces.

During the bilateral meeting, the two ministers exchanged views on security challenges and the geopolitical situation in the Middle East and South-East Europe.

(Photo credit: MORH/ J. Šeri)

“Croatian defence companies, especially those whose products are already recognised globally, have the production capacity, expertise and quality to be valuable partners for the Qatari Armed Forces,” Anušić said.

“I presented the Qatari Minister of Defence with the advantages and capabilities of Croatia’s defence industry, as the Ministry of Defence and the Croatian Government consistently do. A strong and developed domestic industry strengthens national security and reduces dependence on foreign military equipment suppliers.”

(Photo credit: MORH/ J. Šeri)

Minister Anušić also attended the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Croatian technology company Orqa and Barzan Holdings, Qatar’s leading defence and security company.

The agreement expresses a mutual intention to establish a partnership focused on the localised production of Orqa’s drones in Qatar.

(Photo credit: MORH/ J. Šeri)

Orqa was singled out as one of Croatia’s most successful high-tech defence companies, particularly in the field of FPV drone technology.

“Modern armed forces and contemporary military operations are unimaginable without FPV drones,” Anušić said.

“Orqa’s drones are an exclusively European, and Croatian, product, and the company continues to successfully expand into markets across Europe and worldwide.”

(Photo credit: MORH/ J. Šeri)

DIMDEX, organised by the Qatari Armed Forces, has grown into a major international defence and maritime exhibition, attracting leading global defence companies, government delegations and senior naval commanders.

(Photo credit: MORH/ J. Šeri)

Croatia is also represented at DIMDEX 2026 by defence firms Olimp Defense Group and Shadow Nautics, further showcasing the country’s growing presence in the international defence sector.