Croatia is closely monitoring the process of Serbia's rearmament, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Friday. He stressed that Croatia develops its armed forces solely as a means of deterrence.
Plenković, who hosted the Bavarian Premier Markus Söder at the Banski Dvori, also addressed the comments made by Defence Minister Ivan Anušić regarding Serbia's aggressive and hostile rhetoric, which, he stated, is increasingly accompanied by military rearmament.
The prime minister stated that Croatia is 'closely monitoring' the situation in Serbia, a topic that has also been discussed in the Councils for Defence and National Security. He stated that all countries neighbouring Serbia should question why Serbia is rearming so significantly.
As a member of the European Union and NATO, Croatia takes care of its security, Plenković said. He recalled that Croatia has tripled its defence budget over the past ten years. The capabilities it develops, he added, 'are not a threat to anyone', but are a means of deterrence to prevent a recurrence of the aggression of the 1990s.
Croatia 'discusses the situation with all its partners' regarding the rearmament of Serbia, the prime minister said.
