Milanović: Croatia will not join ‘Coalition of the Willing’, says after NATO summit

(Photo: Ured predsjednika Republike Hrvatske / Tomislav Bušljeta)

Croatian President Zoran Milanović has reaffirmed that Croatia will not join the so-called “Coalition of the Willing”, saying the country’s priority is to remain a loyal NATO ally while protecting its own national interests.

Speaking to reporters after the NATO summit in Ankara, Milanović said Croatia’s position was to act fairly towards fellow NATO members, while avoiding involvement in initiatives that do not directly serve the country’s interests.

He said Croatia had “paid other people’s bills” too often throughout its history and that the country should now make the most of its favourable geopolitical position.

Milanović said French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer had raised the issue of the “Coalition of the Willing”, but argued the proposal lacked a clear framework.

He described the idea of deploying Western forces to Ukraine following any future peace agreement as “dangerous”, underdeveloped and uncertain.

Discussing the wider summit, Milanović said US President Donald Trump had been the most candid participant, describing him as someone openly pursuing American interests, particularly in the defence sector.

The Croatian president also raised concerns over Serbia’s continued military procurement during the meeting.

He questioned the purpose of Belgrade’s acquisition of advanced military systems and said Croatia would need to respond by strengthening its own defence capabilities. He added that NATO should be fully informed of developments in the region.

On the war in Ukraine, Milanović praised the resilience of the Ukrainian armed forces, saying the country’s military had been crucial to its survival. He also noted Russia’s significant military manpower and warned that Europe must continue to take the security situation seriously while recognising Russia’s nuclear capabilities.

Milanović expressed disappointment that diplomacy had received little attention during the summit discussions. He said he hoped NATO would remain united, adding that the alliance would lose much of its significance without the United States.

Turning to defence spending, Milanović said capability was more important than simply meeting spending targets. He reiterated his support for Croatia acquiring a military transport aircraft, describing it as a medium-term strategic priority. He also said the country would closely monitor the maintenance programme for its Rafale fighter jets and the ability of strategic partners to meet Croatia’s operational needs.

(Photo: Ured predsjednika Republike Hrvatske / Tomislav Bušljeta)

The president again stressed that Croatia’s geographical position gave it strategic advantages compared with some eastern NATO members, adding that his responsibility was to maximise those benefits for Croatian citizens.

Asked about the possibility of contesting future parliamentary elections, Milanović ruled it out, saying he intends to complete his presidential mandate, which runs for another year and a half.

He also noted that although Croatia’s Constitution does not explicitly state that the president represents the country at NATO summits, he attended the meeting under the existing arrangements and described such gatherings as an established part of international diplomacy.

Before the summit, Milanović met Bulgarian President Rumen Radev to discuss bilateral cooperation in security and defence, as well as the security risks arising from the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and their wider economic and social consequences for Europe.

Milanović also attended a formal dinner for NATO heads of state and government hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.