Croatia’s Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlić Radman emphasized the humanitarian impact of NATO’s 1999 intervention in Kosovo, noting that it prevented a major catastrophe despite lacking a United Nations mandate.
Speaking on the security situation in the Middle East, Radman reminded that since 1945, there have been around 170 conflicts globally without UN authorization, often hindered by vetoes in the UN Security Council, according to Croatian public broadcaster HRT.
He highlighted that the NATO intervention in Kosovo saved countless lives during the humanitarian crisis, even though the operation did not have explicit UN approval. Radman made these comments following a meeting of the Croatian Democratic Union leadership, where developments in the Middle East and President Zoran Milanović’s decision to withdraw Croatian troops from Iraq and Lebanon were discussed.
Radman stressed that Croatia, as a member of both the UN and NATO, has international obligations and demonstrates solidarity through participation in international missions, similar to its support during the Homeland War.
Regarding the recent strikes on Iran, Radman noted that international efforts to halt Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs have failed, expressing regret over the lack of flexibility and credibility of Iranian negotiators, which ultimately led to U.S. and Israeli military action, as reported by the Croatian public broadcaster.
