Croatia ready to reach 5% defence spending

(Photo: MORH/ T. Brandt)

Croatia supports 5 percent GDP defence spending target, aims to lead NATO in drone production

The Vice President of the Croatian Government and Minister of Defence, Ivan Anušić, is attending the NATO Summit taking place in The Hague, Netherlands.

Key topics at the summit include increasing defence spending, tackling current security challenges, strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence posture, adjusting to new threats, supporting Ukraine, and enhancing defence industry cooperation among member states.

Speaking at the summit, Minister Anušić confirmed Croatia’s support for increasing defence expenditure to 5 percent of GDP.

He clarified that 3.5 percent would be allocated directly to military purposes such as equipping, arming, and modernising the armed forces, while 1.5 percent would be reserved for broader security-related investments.

“Croatia is ready. We are moving in that direction with a clear strategy, defined timelines, and a plan to align this spending with our national priorities,” said Anušić.

The target is set for 2035, although an extension has been proposed. “Croatia will certainly meet this timeline,” he added.

(Photo. MORH)

As part of the summit programme, Anušić also participated in the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum.

“The messages were clear. Everyone present felt a strong sense of unity. The threat from Russia has not disappeared, even if the media focus has shifted elsewhere,” he said, referring to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Anušić described the current moment as a major opportunity for Croatia and other nations to strengthen their economies through investment in the defence and security industries.

“Defence today is more than tanks and artillery. It includes cyber security, transportation systems and corridors, communications, and border surveillance,” he said.

A key highlight was Anušić’s announcement regarding Croatia’s growing drone production capabilities. The country is currently manufacturing around 200,000 FPV (first-person view) combat drones, all produced domestically without components from China or countries outside NATO or the EU.

“These FPV drones have proven themselves in combat, especially in Ukraine. The company behind them is Croatian, and we have informed NATO and EU partners of our readiness to lead joint procurement and production efforts. We could even ramp up production to half a million drones by the end of the year,” said Anušić.

(Photo. MORH)

Looking ahead, Croatia’s defence investments will prioritise air defence systems, cyber capabilities, and advanced radar technologies. This aligns with the government’s wider efforts to modernise the Croatian Armed Forces. Ongoing acquisitions include unmanned Bayraktar systems, the advanced HIMARS missile platform, and Leopard 2A8 tanks.

Strengthening Croatia–US defence ties

On the sidelines of the NATO Summit, Minister Anušić held bilateral talks with US senators, focusing on enhancing defence cooperation with the United States, regional security, and Croatia’s ongoing role in international missions.

He reiterated that the United States remains Croatia’s most important and reliable ally in defence matters. Croatia has agreed on the delivery of military equipment and services from the US valued at one billion US dollars.

Anušić briefed the senators on current modernisation projects, including the operational deployment of Bradley armoured vehicles, HIMARS rocket systems, and a ROLE 2 mobile field hospital.

He also emphasised Croatia’s strong commitment to defence funding, noting: “This year, we reached the 2 percent target, and over the past decade Croatia has increased defence spending by 200 percent.”