{"id":41565,"date":"2025-12-19T16:21:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T15:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/?post_type=news&p=41565"},"modified":"2025-12-22T11:23:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T10:23:30","slug":"president-milanovic-at-croatian-defence-academy-in-times-of-confusion-in-europe-we-should-focus-on-our-own-interests","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/news\/president-milanovic-at-croatian-defence-academy-in-times-of-confusion-in-europe-we-should-focus-on-our-own-interests\/","title":{"rendered":"President Milanovi\u0107 at Croatian Defence Academy: In times of confusion in Europe, we should focus on our own interests"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanovi\u0107 participated today in the celebration marking the 34th<\/sup> anniversary of the \u201cDr. Franjo Tu\u0111man\u201d Croatian Defence Academy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn these times of confusion in Europe, and a drama that is still waiting for catharsis in Ukraine, where thousands of soldiers have died, we can only hope that there will be more reason. I do not want Croatian politicians and leaders to be among the guilty or the responsible, as there is no need for that. We should focus on our own affairs and interests, and avoid pushing ourselves into any \u2018coalitions of the willing\u2019 \u2013 what is the point of NATO then?\u201d President Milanovi\u0107 said in his speech at the Academy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking about the global situation, he emphasized that \u201cEurope has changed dramatically\u201d and pointed out that NATO\u2019s situation has also shifted due to the United States\u2019 stance. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to draw a parallel, but \u2013 what is NATO without the USA? It both exists and doesn\u2019t exist. The American national security strategy is one thing, but the NATO Secretary General\u2019s position is something entirely different. We hear about sources of threats, not only from the Secretary General, but also from several heads of state and government of the largest European countries. We hear that it\u2019s just a matter of time before there will be a conflict with Russia. People hear this and are not indifferent. They are scared \u2013 are these fears true, and are they possible? I don\u2019t think so, and I believe it\u2019s beyond reason,\u201d said President Milanovi\u0107.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discussing the situation within the Croatian Army, he noted, \u201cWe in Croatia are short of four thousand personnel for our formation needs. The equipment we have is sufficient for the people currently in place, but without a broader pool, without thousands of soldiers \u2013especially infantry \u2013 the army ceases to exist. How do we attract a younger generation of men? How do we persuade them to join such a strictly hierarchical institution as the army? The army is about obedience, loyalty, sacrifice \u2013 that\u2019s what the military is,\u201d said the President, who welcomed the decision to reintroduce basic military training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe in Croatia have decided on this, and I support it; I believe it\u2019s a good decision to reintroduce the option of non-mandatory military service. However, this system will not result in adequate recruitment \u2013 it will still leave us short of personnel. The fear-driven psychosis being created is costing us; it\u2019s making people hesitant and ambivalent. Our job is to focus on our own challenges and concerns. We are missing four thousand soldiers, officers, and non-commissioned officers, and we must find a way to fill those gaps. I believe the path chosen by the Croatian Parliament is the right one, and there is hope that we will see good results,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the meantime, we need to build capabilities, knowledge, and arm ourselves, but at the same time, when negotiating arms agreements, we shouldn\u2019t get caught up in the illusions of strategic allies who then sell the same arms to your neighbour, who is not in NATO, but more modern equipment, and who knows what else,\u201d he continued, pointing out that this kind of arms trade \u201cis a good example of how things work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis won\u2019t cost Croatia its security; we\u2019re talking about small countries. It won\u2019t cost us the way it did in 1991, even in the worst-case scenario, which I believe will never happen. But this whole episode shows that some countries, which I won\u2019t name, focus solely on their own interests. They will sell to anyone who offers money, to earn and gain strategic influence. The only country that does not behave this way is the USA,\u201d he said, concluding that \u201cwe need to slowly absorb these lessons, not be swayed, remain loyal and well-intentioned, but also observe and assess the relationships around us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the occasion of the 34th<\/sup> anniversary of the \u201cDr. Franjo Tu\u0111man\u201d Croatian Defence Academy, the President of the Republic of Croatia, using his constitutional and legal powers, issued Decisions on the Promotion of Active Officers of the Croatian Armed Forces. Major Vesna Pehar was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The following were promoted to the rank of Major: Captain Vedrana Jeleni\u0107, Captain Marijan Gospo\u010di\u0107, Captain Ivana Mad\u017ear Coli\u0107, Captain Mario Klun, and Captain Jelena Petrovi\u0107 Vu\u010dkovi\u0107. Second Lieutenant Ivan Mihaljevi\u0107 was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to President Milanovi\u0107, the ceremony was addressed by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia, Branko Hrg; the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid; and the Commander of the \u201cDr. Franjo Tu\u0111man\u201d Croatian Defence Academy, Major General Slaven Zdilar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Milanovi\u0107 was accompanied by the Adviser to the President of the Republic for Defence Ivica Oluji\u0107 and the Adviser to the President of the Republic for Education Jadranka \u017darkovi\u0107.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/a>\n \n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia \/ Dario Andri\u0161ek<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanovi\u0107 participated today in the celebration marking the 34th anniversary of the \u201cDr. Franjo Tu\u0111man\u201d Croatian Defence Academy. \u201cIn these times of confusion in Europe, and a drama that is still waiting for catharsis in Ukraine, where thousands of soldiers have died, we can only hope that there will be more reason. I do not want Croatian politicians and leaders to be among the guilty or the responsible, as there is no need for that. We should focus on our own affairs and interests, and avoid pushing ourselves into any \u2018coalitions of the willing\u2019 \u2013 what is the point of NATO then?\u201d President Milanovi\u0107 said in his speech at the Academy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":41564,"template":"","news-cat":[12],"class_list":["post-41565","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-cat-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPresident Milanovi\u0107 at Croatian Defence Academy: In times of confusion in Europe, we should focus on our own interests - President of the Republic of Croatia - Zoran Milanovi\u0107<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.predsjednik.hr\/en\/news\/president-milanovic-at-croatian-defence-academy-in-times-of-confusion-in-europe-we-should-focus-on-our-own-interests\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"President Milanovi\u0107 at Croatian Defence Academy: In times of confusion in Europe, we should focus on our own interests - President of the Republic of Croatia - Zoran Milanovi\u0107\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanovi\u0107 participated today in the celebration marking the 34th anniversary of the \u201cDr. Franjo Tu\u0111man\u201d Croatian Defence Academy. \u201cIn these times of confusion in Europe, and a drama that is still waiting for catharsis in Ukraine, where thousands of soldiers have died, we can only hope that there will be more reason. 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