Croatian President Forbids Military Cooperation with Occupation and Attacks Defense Minister's Visit to Tel Aviv

Croatian President Zoran Milanović expressed strong objection to the official visit made by his Defense Minister, Ivan Anušić, to the occupied territories and his meeting with officials in the occupation government. Milanović stressed the necessity for the Croatian government to sever all forms of defense coordination and military cooperation, whether existing or planned for the future, considering these steps inconsistent with the required orientations under current circumstances.

By virtue of his constitutional powers as the supreme commander of the Croatian Armed Forces, Milanović announced that he would not permit any military cooperation programs between his country's army and the Israeli occupation army. He clarified in official statements via his social media accounts that the discussions held by the Defense Minister with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, regarding strengthening military ties are completely rejected by him.

In contrast, the Croatian Defense Minister had affirmed via the 'X' platform that his visit aimed to build stronger defense relations and explore avenues for bilateral cooperation between the two sides. This divergence in positions between the presidency and the Ministry of Defense reflects an internal division regarding the mechanism for dealing with the Israeli occupation amidst the ongoing crimes committed against civilians in the Gaza Strip.

These were not President Milanović's first stances, as he had previously issued explicit calls to his government for the official recognition of the State of Palestine as a historical and legal right. In previous statements, the Croatian President described the occupation's practices as reflecting a 'murderous system,' warning that the absence of international accountability encourages the continuation of bloodshed in the region.

These political moves in Croatia come against the backdrop of tragic reports about the extent of destruction in the Gaza Strip, where statistics indicate that more than 72,000 martyrs have fallen and over 171,000 others have been injured. Military operations have also caused the destruction of about 90% of vital facilities and infrastructure, with UN estimates suggesting that reconstruction costs could exceed $70 billion.

Recognizing the State of Palestine is an inherent right of its people, not a favor granted to them, and the Israeli regime will continue to kill as long as there are those who protect it.