Croatia-Canada trade jumps 150% as Plenković and Carney move to strengthen bilateral ties

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa on Monday (Photo: Vlada Republike Hrvatske)

OTTAWA, 22 June 2026 – Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa on Monday, with the two leaders reaffirming the strong partnership between Croatia and Canada and discussing opportunities to expand cooperation across trade, energy, defence and tourism.

Plenković was joined by Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar and Tourism and Sport Minister Tonči Glavina during the visit.

The two prime ministers highlighted the excellent relations between Croatia and Canada on a range of bilateral and global issues, including cooperation within NATO.

Particular emphasis was placed on the significant Croatian community in Canada, which continues to play an important role in strengthening ties between the two countries through its contributions to Canadian political, economic, academic and cultural life while maintaining close links with Croatia, the Croatian government confirmed in a statement.

During the meeting, Plenković also raised the issue of the classification of the Croatian language in Canada’s national census.

The Croatian prime minister described Canada as a reliable and important transatlantic partner with whom Croatia shares democratic values, a commitment to international law and support for multilateral cooperation.

Economic relations were a key topic of discussion. Trade between Croatia and Canada reached US$430 million in 2025, representing a 150 per cent increase compared with the previous year.

The growth was driven in part by Croatia Airlines’ procurement of aircraft and engines, as well as ship deliveries ordered by Canadian company Algoma from Croatia’s 3. maj shipyard.

(Photo: Vlada Republike Hrvatske)

Tourism links continue to strengthen, with 188,000 Canadian arrivals recorded in Croatia during 2025. The positive trend has continued into 2026.

The leaders also exchanged views on major international issues. Croatia and Canada reiterated their strong support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and confirmed their continued participation in international efforts supporting the country.

They also stressed the need for a reduction of tensions in the Middle East and expressed support for the European perspective and stability of Southeast Europe.

Energy cooperation featured prominently in the talks. Plenković underlined the strategic importance of the LNG terminal on the island of Krk, while both leaders discussed their shared interest in further developing civil nuclear energy.

A joint declaration between Croatia and Canada is expected to be signed on Tuesday during a business forum in Toronto, reflecting the growing cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector.

Croatia also welcomed Canada’s interest in the DONES project, a major international platform focused on the development of future nuclear fusion energy technologies, scientific excellence and international cooperation.

The meeting included discussions on advancing the proposed Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB), an initiative aimed at creating financing instruments for small and medium-sized enterprises involved in defence, security and resilience projects among allied nations.

(Photo: Vlada Republike Hrvatske)

Plenković and Carney also briefly met representatives of Croatian and Canadian companies ORQA and Remote Robotics. The companies are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding during Tuesday’s business gathering, establishing a strategic partnership in the defence industry focused on artificial intelligence integration, advanced unmanned aerial systems manufacturing and support for training the Canadian Armed Forces.

Concluding the meeting, Plenković congratulated Carney on Canada’s role as co-host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside the United States and Mexico. The two leaders also wished success to both the Croatian and Canadian national football teams.