By Talha Ozturk
SARAJEVO (AA) – Croatia and Slovenia signed a declaration on military cooperation Friday, which Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anusic described as a “new chapter” in already strong defense relations between the two neighboring states.
Anusic and Slovenian Defense Minister Borut Sajovic signed the declaration in Zagreb, covering a broad range of cooperation between their armed forces and defense industries to “function better and more effectively.”
“Croatia and Slovenia, as friendly countries and NATO allies, share common interests in peace and stability in our neighborhood, especially in Southeast Europe. We recognize the opportunity to strengthen cooperation and defense industries, which will also contribute to economic growth in both countries,” Anusic said on social platform X.
Sajovic, for his part, told reporters that “the world has changed and this requires further strengthening of cooperation in defense and all other areas.”
He emphasized that Zagreb and Ljubljana have a “great responsibility” in the Western Balkans, particularly in maintaining peace in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The signing came a day after a virtual meeting of the so-called “coalition of the willing,” after which French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 states were ready to deploy troops to Ukrainian territory in the event of a cease-fire.
Anusic reiterated that Croatia would not send its troops to Ukraine.
“We are not ready, we do not want, nor do we plan to send the Croatian army to Ukraine,” he said, adding that Croatia would continue to strongly support the war-torn country in other ways.
Sajovic said Slovenia would send its troops only as part of a possible United Nations mission, stressing that such operations require approval of the UN Security Council, where Russia and China hold veto powers.