Croatian President Zoran Milanović issued a sharp warning on Monday regarding the arrival of a U.S. Navy destroyer near Dubrovnik, asserting that foreign warships should be barred from Croatian waters unless specifically authorized by the Croatian Parliament (Sabor).
The President’s comments came as the USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79), a guided-missile destroyer, docked in the port of Gruž, where it is expected to remain until May 6.
Constitutional Concerns over Sovereign Waters
During a visit to Orahovica, Milanović argued that the current practice of allowing foreign military vessels to enter under the jurisdiction of the Government is unconstitutional. He emphasized that under Article 7 of the Croatian Constitution, any entry of foreign armed forces—even those of allies—must be subject to parliamentary approval.
“Without a decision by the Croatian Parliament, I would not allow foreign warships into Croatia, especially not those coming from areas of active military operations,” Milanović stated. He pointed out that these vessels are often returning from missions not sanctioned by the UN Security Council, missions in which he claims Croatia “has no part.”
Tensions Following U.S. Security Warnings
Milanović linked the ship’s arrival to recent comments made by U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. Speaking in Dubrovnik just days prior, Wright criticized European allies for failing to grasp the severity of the Iranian nuclear threat, even suggesting that Croatia sits within the range of Iranian missiles.
“They arrive three days after the American Secretary said we are within range of Iranian rockets,” Milanović noted, highlighting what he perceives as a provocative or contradictory diplomatic sequence.
A Call for Unified Responsibility
The President dismissed the Maritime Code, which currently regulates the entry of foreign ships, as “completely unconstitutional” because it bypasses the higher authority of the Constitution. He argued for a tripartite chain of responsibility involving the Government, the President, and the Parliament.
“The intention is joint responsibility,” Milanović explained. “A few thousand soldiers are entering a Croatian port… What is the difference between that and the situation in Article 7 of the Constitution, which says that the entry of foreign military into Croatia must pass the approval of the Sabor?”
Milanović urged the Parliament, as the supreme representative body of Croatian citizens, to be more protective of its own jurisdiction and constitutional duties regarding national sovereignty and military movements.
