Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Friday that neighboring countries should examine why Serbia is undertaking what he described as an unusually extensive military buildup, characterizing the process as almost a “shopping spree” for weapons around the world.
Plenković made the remarks while hosting Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder in Zagreb. He was responding to comments by Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anušić, who had earlier raised concerns about what he described as increasingly hostile rhetoric from Serbia alongside its military buildup.
Plenković said Croatia was “closely monitoring” developments in Serbia and that the issue had also been discussed by Croatia’s defense and national security councils.
Plenković: Serbia Is on an Arms “Shopping Spree”
According to Plenković, Serbia is engaged in an “extraordinary process of rearmament,” involving purchases from multiple parts of the world.
He said countries neighboring Serbia should ask why Belgrade is investing so heavily in military equipment.
Plenković emphasized that Croatia, as a member of the European Union and NATO, is also strengthening its defense capabilities. He said Croatia had tripled its defense budget over the past decade, while arguing that the capabilities being developed are intended as a deterrent rather than a threat to other countries.
He linked Croatia’s defense policy to the goal of preventing a repetition of the conflicts of the 1990s.
“We are discussing Serbia’s armament with all our partners,” Plenković said, adding that they were aware of the situation.
Anušić said earlier on Friday, speaking at an international defense-industry conference in Zadar, that Croatia was aware of what he described as Serbia’s decade-long effort to strengthen its armed forces with advanced offensive systems.
He also accused Serbia of continuing rhetoric that, in his assessment, resembles that of the 1990s, which he linked to the wars in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo.
