Croatia and Slovenia welcome the increase in NATO's defense spending targets to five percent of GDP, Prime Ministers Andrej Plenković and Robert Golob agreed on Monday in Črnomelj, ahead of this week's Alliance summit.
The two prime ministers signed an agreement in Črnomlje on the construction, management and maintenance of bridges and other facilities on the state border.
"We both welcome the flexibility achieved by defining defense allocations, because only in this way can each country contribute in its own way to the security and defense capabilities of the entire alliance," said Golob.
NATO leaders are expected to confirm a new defense spending target of five percent of GDP at their summit in The Hague this week.
Of that five percent, 3,5 percent would go to purely military expenditures, and the remaining 1,5 percent to costs for projects that have a civilian and military purpose.
Plenković, calling the issue of allocations for defense important and a priority, pointed out that Croatia is already fulfilling "NATO's last pledge, which is that we are at over two percent".
"The new ambitions that will be defined at the summit are within the framework of what we consider realistic. Our ambition is to be at three percent by 2030," said Plenković.
He added that the five percent allocation could be reached "a few years beyond 2030, and according to what is currently on the table, even 2035."
Plenković and Golob concerned about the overall global situation
Plenković pointed out that Croatia, like Slovenia, is very concerned about the overall global security situation.
"This is not 'business as usual'. Russian aggression continues, the big war that we have seen since October 2023 between Israel and Hamas had several phases and the involvement of Hezbollah on the Lebanese side, the involvement of the Houthis from Yemen. Now we have a direct war between Israel and Iran," said Plenković, adding that the Croatian government is deeply concerned about this.
Israel attacked Iran on June 13th, and on Sunday night the US joined in by attacking three Iranian nuclear facilities.
Plenković stressed that great instability in the Middle East could lead to a number of consequences, such as rising energy prices, but also new migration waves, "which, according to current practice, will end up on the territory of European countries, which carries a whole series of political, security, and social consequences such as we had after the waves of 2015 and 16."
"The third potential danger is, of course, the threat of terrorist attacks that can occur anywhere around the world, and all of this causes instability and insecurity among our citizens," Plenković added.
The Slovenian Prime Minister said that some activities of the Israeli government do not inspire confidence due to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
"Time will tell which of them is sincere. Unfortunately, some activities, primarily by the Israeli government, do not inspire confidence in their words because the situation in Gaza has deteriorated significantly," said Golob, who stressed that for Slovenia the only real option is peace.
Croatia ready to participate in the Krško project
Golob said that he also informed Plenković about the planned and current activities related to the construction of a new unit at the Krško nuclear power plant.
"I understand that Croatia is still interested, that is completely understandable. We are also interested in Croatia participating in the preparation of that project as a partner," said Golob.
Plenković said that Croatia understands Slovenian ambitions in the context of plans to build a new block in Krško and that the Croatian position has been principled from the beginning.
"We are interested in continuing cooperation, ideally according to the existing model, but we are open to discussions considering that the circumstances are completely new, and in this way we can ensure electricity for our citizens not for five, 10, but for 100 years in the future," Plenković said.
He added that Croatia, if the project receives appropriate support in Slovenia, wants to participate in it and that it is satisfied with the cooperation and management in Krško "for the last 50 years."
Bridges connecting two nations
The two prime ministers said that the agreement signed in Črnomlje on Monday will have a positive impact on the population along the entire border.
"(The agreement on) 23 facilities that need renovation, maintenance and expansion is intended precisely to ensure that the border does not separate, but connects," said Golob.
Plenković said that these are bridges that connect two peoples, and "they are especially beneficial to those in the border area, but also to all others who cross borders".
"That's why it seems to me that this is one of the small but operational steps to bring our countries and peoples closer together, and I look forward to jointly investing in better quality bridges between the two countries," he added.
Photo: HINA/Denis Cerić
