President Milanović Meets with the Chief of the General Staff and All Commanders of the Croatian Armed Forces: An Implementation Document for the Long-Term Development Plan Is Essential for the Croatian Armed Forces
The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović met with the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid, the commanders of the Armed Forces’ branches and commands, and members of the extended Collegium of the Chief of the General Staff.
At the meeting, held at the General Staff headquarters, Lieutenant General Kundid briefed President Milanović on the main activities of the Croatian Armed Forces at home and abroad, including the participation of Armed Forces personnel in NATO, European Union and United Nations missions and operations. He also briefed the President on the Armed Forces’ manning levels and readiness, basic military training, and the development of new capabilities.
President Milanović emphasized that the primary task of the Armed Forces is to protect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Croatia. Accordingly, the Armed Forces prepare to defend the country independently or with the assistance of allies, in accordance with Croatia’s international agreements. The participation of the Croatian Armed Forces in NATO, EU and UN missions and operations is conducted strictly in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia and the law. President Milanović reiterated his position that the Croatian Armed Forces will not participate in coalitions or military activities that fall outside the scope of international agreements already concluded by the Republic of Croatia.
At the meeting, the President of the Republic said that the most important issues concerning the development, equipping and modernization of the Armed Forces must be considered and coordinated by the Defense Council. He also expressed his support for all equipping and modernization projects presented by the Government of the Republic of Croatia at the Defense Council session held in April 2026.
The meeting also addressed the Long-Term Development Plan of the Croatian Armed Forces. At the Defense Council session, President Milanović had already pointed out the Government’s obligation to adopt an implementation document for the Long-Term Development Plan that would cover projects for developing the Armed Forces’ key capabilities, as well as the financial projections required to implement those projects. However, this implementation document has not yet been adopted, meaning that it is more than a year overdue. The President of the Republic therefore stressed the importance of this document, which must provide for a comprehensive approach to the planning and implementation of all arms procurement. The implementation document for the Long-Term Development Plan should address issues including operational doctrine, the organization and structure of Armed Forces units, personnel training and education, the provision of support and logistical equipment, and the construction of specialised infrastructure.
The meeting also discussed the need to increase the manning levels of the Armed Forces, with President Milanović emphasizing the importance of staffing them with active-duty soldiers and sailors. He again proposed a measure aimed at improving the Armed Forces’ personnel levels, which he had first called for at the Defense Council session in May 2025: aligning the housing and transportation reimbursement entitlements of active-duty soldiers and sailors with those of non-commissioned officers and officers. This measure has still not been implemented.
The President of the Republic thanked the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces for all activities related to the successful introduction and implementation of basic military training and expressed his support for the General Staff’s systematic efforts to address all organizational, personnel and infrastructure issues so that the training can continue successfully and be expanded.
Accompanying the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces at the meeting were the Director of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Major General Denis Tretinjak, Commander of the Croatian Army Major General Blaž Beretin, Commander of the Croatian Navy Rear Admiral Damir Dojkić, Commander of the Croatian Air Force Brigadier General Krešimir Ražov, Commander of Support Command Brigadier General Mile Vukičević, Chief of the Operations Directorate Major General Ivan Raos, Chief of the Personnel Directorate Brigadier General Robert Suntešić, Deputy Commander of the Croatian Defence Academy Colonel Damir Stručić, Chief of the Planning Directorate Colonel Branimir Tojčić, Chief of the Communications and Information Systems Directorate Colonel Krešimir Kršinić, and the Head of the Cabinet of the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Colonel Zoran Lipoščak.
In addition to the President of the Republic, the meeting was attended by the Head of the Office of the President Orsat Miljenić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Defence Ivica Olujić, and the Head of the Military Office in the Cabinet for Defence and National Security in the Office of the President Colonel Franjo Hrala.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta