Zagreb, Croatia — Military Parade Marks Major Anniversary
On Thursday, Croatia’s capital hosted a military parade commemorating 30 years since a significant victory in the war, as the nation seeks to bolster its military capacity through loans from the new European Union Defence Fund.
The event showcased approximately 3,400 military personnel, police units, emergency services, and war veterans, with a highlight being the French-made Rafale jets flying over an overpass. Simultaneously, naval combat ships sailed through the Adriatic Sea ports.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic remarked, “We have transitioned significantly from Eastern to Western technology, aligning with the capabilities of our partners and allies.”
Croatia became an EU member in 2013, following its NATO membership four years earlier.
In August 1995, Croatia regained territory that had been controlled by a minority of Serbs since the 1991 rebellion against its independence from Yugoslavia, which was led by former communists. This operation was pivotal in the war and triggered a large exodus of ethnic Serbs from Croatia.
Currently, tensions persist with Serbia, which had supported the ethnic Serbian rebellion during the 1990s. Serbia is set to hold a ceremony to honor the victims of the attack, warning its citizens about traveling to Croatia in early August.
A military parade is also planned in Belgrade for September.
Political analyst Zarko Puhovski suggested that the military display aims to generate public support for increased defense spending, especially given heightened security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. “It’s primarily a showcase of military capabilities,” Puhovski commented. “This is framed as Croatia’s contribution to the broader trend of militarization in Europe.”
Croatia is among 18 EU nations seeking billions of euros from the bloc’s affordable loan program designed to strengthen European security. According to Plenkovic, Croatia is eligible to apply for 1.8 billion euros ($2 billion) from this fund.
A significant 15 billion euro ($173 billion) security program for Europe was initiated after former U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that European security is not a priority for the U.S.
Some European allies of the U.S. are concerned that a Russian victory in Ukraine could lead to further aggression towards them by President Vladimir Putin.
