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Strategic Document – Croatia – 2024

NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY: 2017
NATIONAL DEFENCE STRATEGY: 2002

NO CHANGES IN 2023

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National interests and goals (as defined in the Strategies):
Security of the population // Territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Croatia // Strengthening the international reputation and influence of the Republic of Croatia // Ensuring the survival, protection of the identity and the political subjectivity of the Croatian people as constitutive in Bosnia and Herzegovina // Protection and support of Croats in other countries, and emigration

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Main threats:
Unresolved issues on delimitation with certain neighbouring countries // Political and intelligence activities of countries and non-state factors that perceive the European Union and NATO as a security threat // Terrorist attacks

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Main principles of national security policy:
Parliamentary, professional and civil oversight of the legality of the work of the security and intelligence system // Inclusion of population in the civil protection system

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Regional cooperation:
The Republic of Croatia emphasises investing in the stability of the Southeast neighbourhood, viewing the Euro-Atlantic integration and the implementation of reforms as key factors and instruments for achieving stability and security. The Republic of
Croatia will therefore systematically act in support of democratic processes, stabilisation, and access of countries in Southeast Europe to Euro-Atlantic integration. The Republic of Croatia will endeavour to seek a solution to the open issues of delimitation through direct negotiations or through proceedings before an international judicial body.

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Regional threats:
Political instability, underdeveloped state institutions, corruption, the high unemployment rate and social and ethnic tensions make the security situation in our Southeast neighbourhood fragile. Although Euro-Atlantic influence is still dominant, the space is also open to the influence of other global and regional actors and geopolitical competition and various destabilising external influences are reflected in this area as well. The Croatian neighbourhood shows trends of increasing intolerance, radicalism and extremism, especially Islamist radicalism.

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Relations with NATO:
For the Republic of Croatia, NATO is the guarantor of peace, stability and security. The membership of the Republic of Croatia in NATO provides a convincing guarantee of collective defence as an important factor in deterring and defending the population, territory, and national sovereignty. Appropriate military and civilian capabilities for deterrence and defence will be developed to carry out the tasks of the NATO Preparedness Action Plan as a contribution to the credibility of Allied solidarity and NATO cohesion.

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Relations with the EU:
The Republic of Croatia will actively contribute to missions and operations within the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union and participate in the association and the sharing of initiatives and projects of the European Defence Agency.

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International military cooperation:
The Republic of Croatia will contribute to the efforts aimed at strengthening international security and stability by participating in international missions and operations, as well as crisis response operations of international organisations, in particular the United Nations, NATO, the European Union, OSCE, and the Council of Europe.

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Strategic Documents – Croatia

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Women in Defence System – Croatia – 2024

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National Action Plan 1325:

Croatia’s second Action Plan 1325 on women, peace and security expired in 2023. In June 2023, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs published the latest report on the implementation of the National Action Plan 1325 for the period of 2021 and 2022.1

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Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

The number and share of women among the personnel employed in the Ministry of Defence and the Croatian Army slightly increased in the last year. According to the annual defence report (2022), out of 14,562 active military personnel, on December 31, 2022, there were 2,046 women or 14%. In the category of civil servants and employees, out of 1,872 employees on December 31, 2022, there were 957 women or 51%. The data on the proportion of women among officers, non-commissioned officers (NCOs), and enlisted personnel are not available. In the academic year 2022/2023. out of 417 students enrolled in the Croatian Military Academy, 93 are women, of which six women and 34 men from abroad. In 2022, 22 women out of 71 cadets graduated from the Military Academy.

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Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

The share of women in command and leadership positions remains unchanged (12%), while 13% of women were promoted to a higher rank in 2022.

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Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

2022, a total of 29 members of the Croatian Army participated in three United Nations missions (UNMOGIP – India and Pakistan, MINURSO – Western Sahara, UNIFIL – Lebanon), including seven female members. However, in all peace support operations and missions abroad, the share of women was 9%.

      1. Republika Hrvatska, Ministarstvo vanjskih i europskih poslova, Nacionalni akcijski plan provedbe Rezolucije Vijeća sigurnosti Ujedinjenih naroda 1325 (2000) o ženama, miru i sigurnosti, te srodnih rezolucija, za razdoblje od 2019. do 2023. godine, [National action plan for the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security, and related resolutions, for the period from 2019 to 2023] https://mvep.gov.hr/informacije-za-gradjane-244593/ugovori-dokumenti-i-obrasci/dokumenti/nap-ii/27171 https://mvep.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/2023/datoteke/Izvje%C5%A1%C4%87e-NAPII-2021-2022.pdf
      2. Data on the representation of women among NCOs and enlisted personnel are not available in the annual defence report for 2022. For this reason, it is not possible to make a comparison with other countries in the region.
      3. Vlada Republike Hrvatske, Godišnje izvješće o obrani za 2022. Godinu, [Annual Defense Report for 2022], 2 November 2023, https://www.sabor.hr/sites/default/files/uploads/sabor/2023-11-03/095806/GOD_IZVJ_OBRANA_2022.pdf

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Croatia

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International Military Cooperation – Croatia – 2024

MILITARY EXERCISES

While the Croatian MoD does not respond to FOI requests, the open-source search led to the compilation of data through the Croatian MoD’s website and relied on the plan of military exercises that the Croatian government adopted in early 2023. Based on these two sources of data, it was established that Croatia had 66 military exercises in 2023. Most of these were multilateral exercises, totalling 57 of which 47 were with NATO or multilateral exercises led by major NATO powers to boost interoperability with NATO and the application of NATO standards. Two exercises were held with the EU. There were also eight regional exercises done under the auspices of various regional initiatives, including three with the Regional Multinational Division Centre, one with the Adriatic Charter (A-5), two with the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (ADRION), one with the Defence Cooperation Initiative (DECI) and one with the Central European Defence Cooperation. Bilaterally, there were nine international military exercises, including the US (5 exercises), France (2 exercises), the UK (1 exercise) and Italy (1 exercise). These exercises were diverse in scope and nature as the individual exercises involved regular troops, special forces, the navy, air force, military police, cyber defence and computer-assisted exercises, among others.

DONATIONS

Just like in 2021 and 2022, the US again became Croatia’s largest military donor. The combined value of donations and grants from the US to Croatia is USD 202.1 million. These involve an agreement with the US on a foreign military assistance programme worth USD 140 million (EUR 152 million). The acquisition of 89 infantry fighting vehicles, Bradley from the US, involves Croatia providing USD 145,2 million and the US providing USD 57 million. Croatian special forces also received three Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) from the US worth USD 5.1 million. The UK donated IT equipment of unspecified monetary value.

TOP FOREIGN DONORS 2023

United States of America
USD 202.1 million

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor
International Military Cooperation – Croatia

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Defence expenditure – Croatia – 2024

Military budget of Croatia has almost doubled since 2017, largely due to the procurement of 12 French Dassault Rafale fighter jets in 2021. Projections for 2024 and 2025 suggest steady further increase, partly attributed to procurements of Bradley armoured vehicles and Black Hawk helicopters from the USA. Defence expenditure as a percentage of total government expenditure ranges around 3.5 percent, albeit it surpassed 4 percent in 2021 and 2022.

2023

Share of GDP 1,45%
Share of total government
expenditure 3,60%

The Parliament regularly adopts budgets for the upcoming year, usually in November. Balance sheets and yearly Reports on defence are also regularly adopted by the Parliament, however the last one adopted was the Report for 2021, while the Report for 2022 is still in procedure, being submitted by the Government later than usual.

In 2021 there was a shift in defence budget structure in favour of arms and equipment, attributed to the Rafale purchase which still takes the largest portion of capital expenditure. Modernisation of the army foresees several other purchases from the US, such as Patria armoured vehicles and Javelin anti-tank guided missile system, confirming this trend. Since 2021, spending on personnel ranges around 42 percent. Despite changes in budget display since 2023, making the budget slightly less disaggregated and transparent, Croatian defence budget is at the top in the region when it comes to these categories. It shows to specific procurements broken down into subcategories.

2024 – Balkan Defence Monitor 
Defence Expenditures – Croatia

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2023-IMC-Croatia

International Military Cooperation – Croatia – 2023

MILITARY EXERCISES

Croatia remains active when it comes to military exercises and, based on public sources, it is estimated that it has participated in 14 such exercises in 2022. Some of them were conducted on a multilateral basis, with NATO. Bilateral military exercises have been conducted mostly with the US (5 exercises), but also with France (2 exercises) and the UK (1 exercise). Exercises related to special forces and maritime exercises were represented as well. Croatia also participated in a multinational naval exercise, “ADRION LIVEX 2022”, organised under the auspices of the regional Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (ADRION).

DONATIONS

The United States appears to be the country’s biggest military donor, much like in 2021. In 2022, Croatia received two UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from the US, estimated at USD 55 million.

To assist Croatia in acquiring Bradley infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), the US pledged to provide USD 51.1 million in European Recapitalisation Incentive Programme (ERIP) financial aid to Croatia, with Croatia being obliged to secure the remaining USD 145.3 million of the total transaction amounting to USD 196.4 million. Some sources noted that, with the arrival of Black Hawk helicopters, the US military assistance to Croatia reached USD 685 million. It is not possible to determine the accuracy of this assessment and whether it took into account the deal on Bradley vehicles, which was made in the same period.

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
International Military Cooperation – Croatia

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2023-Woman-Croatia

Women in Defence System – Croatia – 2023

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National Action Plan 1325:

Croatia is currently implementing the second Action Plan 1325 on women, peace and security for the period
2019-2023. In November 2021, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs published its first report on the implementation of the National Action Plan 1325 for 2019 and 2020.¹

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Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

According to the annual defence report (2022), the number and share of women among the personnel employed in the Ministry of Defence and the Croatian Army is constantly increasing. Of the 15,008 active military personnel on 31 December 2021, 2,019 were women (13.45%). As at 31 December 2021, there were 1,003 women, i.e. 50.7% of the 1,982 employees in the categories of civil servants and state employees. The latest data on the proportion of women among officers, non-commissioned officers (NCOs), and soldiers are not available. Still, the Croatian government assesses that Croatia ranks among the top NATO member countries in terms of the level of representation of women in the armed forces and regulated rights in the field of gender equality.

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Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

The share of women in command and leadership positions was 12.04%. According to the MoD’s annual defence report, a total of 13.86% of women were promoted to a higher rank in 2021. The number of women with the rank of General has stagnated since 2014, with a single female officer holding that rank (Brigadier General).

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Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

According to the MoD’s annual defence report (2022), the proportion of women in peace support operations and missions abroad was 6.93%. However, submitting the report to the parliamentary Defence Committee, the minister Mario Banožić said that “in 2021, Croatia continued to actively participate in NATO, EU and UN peace support operations, missions and activities, with 643 members of its armed forces, including 48 women (7.47%)”.²

      1. Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs – Republic of Croatia, NAP II, 2022, https://mvep.gov.hr/informacije-za-gradjane-244593/ugovori-dokumenti-i-obrasci/dokumenti/nap-ii/27171

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Croatia

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2023-DE-Croatia

Defence expenditure – Croatia – 2023

Croatian military expenditure had a sharp increase in 2021, due to the to the contract signed for the purchase of 12 French Dassault Rafale fighter jets at the end of the year. Before that, the expenditure did not experience any large changes, either nominally, or as a military burden. Defence expenditure has taken up around 3.50% of the total governmentexpenditure until 2021.

2022

Share of GDP 1.67%
Share of total government
expenditure 4.35%

The Croatian Parliament regularly adopts the budget for the forthcoming year in late November or early December. The Parliament also regularly adopts balance sheets and yearly Reports on Defence.

The 2021 increase is entirely attributed to the Rafale purchase at the end of the year, which resulted in a rebalance and a 43% increase in the planned budget. Prior to that, there were no significant fluctuations during the year, and the initial budget was slightly underspent. Croatia spent the largest portion of its military budget on personnel; however, the above purchase changed the planned budget structure in favour of arms and equipment. The Croatian defence budget is the most transparent and disaggregated in the region. Unlike the budgets of other countries, it shows major procurements individually and breaks them down into subcategories.

The Croatian defence budget is the most transparent and disaggregated in the region. Unlike the budgets of other countries, the Croatian budget shows major procurements individually and breaks them down into subcategories.

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Defence Expenditures – Croatia

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2023-SD-Croatia

Strategic Document – Croatia – 2023

NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY: 2017
NATIONAL DEFENCE STRATEGY: 2002

NO CHANGES IN 2022

icon01

National interests and goals (as defined in the Strategies):
Security of the population // Territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Croatia // Strengthening the international reputation and influence of the Republic of Croatia // Ensuring the survival, protection of the identity and the political subjectivity of the Croatian people as constitutive in Bosnia and Herzegovina // Protection and support of Croats in other countries, and emigration

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Main threats:
Unresolved issues on delimitation with certain neighbouring countries // Political and intelligence activities of countries and non-state factors that perceive the European Union and NATO as a security threat // Terrorist attacks

icon03

Main principles of national security policy:
Parliamentary, professional and civil oversight of the legality of the work of the security and intelligence system // Inclusion of population in the civil protection system

icon04

Regional cooperation:
The Republic of Croatia emphasises investing in the stability of the Southeast neighbourhood, viewing the Euro-Atlantic integration and the implementation of reforms as key factors and instruments for achieving stability and security. The Republic of Croatia will therefore systematically act in support of democratic processes, stabilisation, and access of countries in Southeast Europe to Euro-Atlantic integration. The Republic of Croatia will endeavour to seek a solution to the open issues of delimitation through direct negotiations or through proceedings before an international judicial body.

icon05

Regional threats:
Political instability, underdeveloped state institutions, corruption, the high unemployment
rate and social and ethnic tensions make the security situation in our Southeast neighbourhood fragile. Although Euro-Atlantic influence is still dominant, the space is also open to the influence of other global and regional actors and geopolitical competition and various destabilising external influences are reflected in this area as well. The Croatian neighbourhood shows trends of increasing intolerance, radicalism and extremism, especially Islamist radicalism.

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Relations with NATO:
For the Republic of Croatia, NATO is the guarantor of peace, stability andsecurity. The membership of the Republic of Croatia in NATO provides a convincing guarantee of collective defence as an important factor in deterring and defending the population, territory, and national sovereignty. Appropriate military and civilian capabilities for deterrence and defence will be developed to carry out the tasks of the NATO Preparedness Action Plan as a contribution to the credibility of Allied solidarity and NATO cohesion.

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Relations with the EU:
The Republic of Croatia will actively contribute to missions and operations within the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union and participate in the association and the sharing of initiatives and projects of the European Defence Agency.

icon08

International military cooperation:
The Republic of Croatia will contribute to the efforts aimed at strengthening international security and stability by participating in international missions and operations, as well as crisis response operations of international organisations, in particular the United Nations, NATO, the European Union, OSCE, and the Council of Europe.

2023 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Strategic Documents – Croatia

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Women in Defence System – Croatia – 2022

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National Action Plan 1325:

Croatia is currently in the phase of implementing the second Action Plan 1325 on women, peace and security for the period 2019-2023. In November 2021, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs published its first report on the implementation of the National Action Plan 1325 for 2019 and 2020.

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Participation of women in the MoDs and the Armed Forces:

According to the statement of Deputy Chief of General Staff, Major General Siniša Jurković,1 women currently make up 14.6% of employees in the Croatian Army. This is an increase compared to 2020, when they made up 13% of the active military personnel.2 Given the statistics, Croatia will soon meet the NATO standard of 15% of female uniformed personnel in the armed forces. In addition, Croatia is one of the countries in the region with the highest percentage of women in the ranks of officers, as well as non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and professional soldiers. According to the available data from 2020, the share of female officers is 19.19%, of non-commissioned officers – 10.84%, and of female soldiers – 11.49%.3 In 2020, the share of women among civil servants and employees in the MoD was 50.2%.4

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Representation of women in command and leadership positions:

In 2021, Croatian Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Major General Siniša Jurković, said that the number of women in command and leadership positions was unsatisfactory.5 In 2020, 36.4% of women held leading positions in the MoD, while 10.4% held command positions in the Croatian Army.6 According to MFA’s progress report on NAP 1325 implementation, the share of women exercising command and managerial posts in the MoD and in the CAF in 2020 was 11.59%, which was an increase compared to 2019 (10.95%).7 The number of women with the rank of general has stagnated since 2017, with one woman Brigadier General8 among the total of 30, which is a share of 3.33%. Among the senior officers with the rank of brigadier, women comprise 6.73% (there are 23 of them). A total of 13.7% of women were promoted to a higher rank in 2020.9

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Participation of women in peacekeeping operations:

Despite being a member of NATO and the EU, Croatia has the lowest participation of women in international operations. Representation of women from the Croatian Armed Forces in the international (UN, NATO and EU-led) missions and operations was 5.83% in 2020 (54 women), showing a slight decrease compared to 2019.10 Regardless, in December 2020 the Croatian Ministry of Defence informed NATO that it had achieved the required gender balance target in its peacekeeping operations.11

      1. “VIDEO: Final conference of the project “Women’s Empowerment and Support in the Military Forces and Peacekeeping Missions of the Republic of Croatia”, Ministry of the Interior, 25 October 2021, https://www.zeneimediji.hr/zene-u-vojnim-snagama-i-mirovnim-misijama-rh-analiza-polozaja-zena-u-sustavu-oruzanih-snaga/
      2. Ministry of the Interior, Analysis of the position of women in the military forces and peacekeeping missions of the Republic of Croatia, 2021, https://mup.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/2021/10/Projekt%20Osna%C5%BEivanje%20%C5%BEena-%202510.2021/BrosuraFinal.pdf
      3. Ibid, p. 8
      4. Ibid, p. 8
      5. “VIDEO: Final conference of the project “Women’s Empowerment and Support in the Military Forces and Peacekeeping Missions of the Republic of Croatia”, Ministry of the Interior, 25 October 2021
      6. Analysis of the position of women in the military forces and peacekeeping missions of the Republic of Croatia, 2021, p. 8
      7. Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Report on the implementation of the National Action Plan for the implementation
        of the Resolution of the United Nations Security Council 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security, and related resolutions for the period 2019-2023, for 2019 and 2020
      8. “Women in the Croatian Armed Forces – pride and prejudice”, Women and the media, https://www.zeneimediji.hr/zene-u-oruzanim-snagama-rh-ponos-i-predrasude/
      9. Ibid, page 8
      10. Analysis of the position of women in the military forces and peacekeeping missions of the Republic of Croatia, 2021.
      11. NATO statistics, https://www.globalwps.org/details/HRV

2022 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Women In Defence System – Croatia

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Croatia-SD-Baner

Strategic Document – Croatia – 2022

NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY: 2017
NATIONAL DEFENCE STRATEGY: 2002

icon01

National interests and goals (as defined in the Strategies):
Security of the population // Territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Croatia // Strengthening the international reputation and influence of the Republic of Croatia // Ensuring the survival, protection of the identity and the political subjectivity of the Croatian people as constitutive in Bosnia and Herzegovina // Protection and support of Croats in other countries, and emigration

icon02

Main threats:
Unresolved issues on delimitation with certain neighbouring countries // Political and intelligence activities of countries and non-state factors that perceive the European Union and NATO as a security threat // Terrorist attacks

icon03

Main principles of national security policy:
Parliamentary, professional and civil oversight of the legality of the work of the security and intelligence system // Inclusion of population in the civil protection system

icon04

Regional cooperation:
The Republic of Croatia emphasises investing in the stability of the Southeast neighbourhood, viewing the Euro-Atlantic integration and the implementation of reforms as key factors and instruments for achieving stability and security. The Republic of Croatia will therefore systematically act in support of democratic processes, stabilisation, and access of countries in Southeast Europe to Euro-Atlantic integration. The Republic of Croatia will endeavour to seek a solution to the open issues of delimitation through direct negotiations or through proceedings before an international judicial body.

icon05

Regional threats:
Political instability, underdeveloped state institutions, corruption, the high unemployment
rate and social and ethnic tensions make the security situation in our Southeast neighbourhood fragile. Although Euro-Atlantic influence is still dominant, the space is also open to the influence of other global and regional actors and geopolitical competition and various destabilising external influences are reflected in this area as well. The Croatian neighbourhood shows trends of increasing intolerance, radicalism and extremism, especially Islamist radicalism.

icon06

Relations with NATO:
For the Republic of Croatia, NATO is the guarantor of peace, stability andsecurity. The membership of the Republic of Croatia in NATO provides a convincing guarantee of collective defence as an important factor in deterring and defending the population, territory, and national sovereignty. Appropriate military and civilian capabilities for deterrence and defence will be developed to carry out the tasks of the NATO Preparedness Action Plan as a contribution to the credibility of Allied solidarity and NATO cohesion.

icon07

Relations with the EU:
The Republic of Croatia will actively contribute to missions and operations within the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union and participate in the association and the sharing of initiatives and projects of the European Defence Agency.

icon08

International military cooperation:
The Republic of Croatia will contribute to the efforts aimed at strengthening international security and stability by participating in international missions and operations, as well as crisis response operations of international organisations, in particular the United Nations, NATO, the European Union, OSCE, and the Council of Europe.

2022 – Balkan Defence Monitor
Strategic Documents – Albania

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