Croatia and Canada Strengthen Transatlantic Partnership and Economic Ties

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković met with his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney in Ottawa, aiming to bolster the transatlantic partnership and economic relations between the two nations. The leaders highlighted the strong relationship between Croatia and Canada, underscored by shared democratic values and cooperation within NATO.

A significant point of discussion was the substantial growth in bilateral trade, which surged by 150% in 2025 to $430 million. This increase was largely attributed to major deals, including aircraft and engine procurement for Croatia Airlines and a shipbuilding contract with Canadian firm Algoma.

Both prime ministers reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. They also explored avenues for enhanced energy cooperation, touching upon the strategic importance of Croatia's LNG terminal and a mutual interest in developing civil nuclear energy, including Croatia's potential involvement in the DONES project for fusion energy research.

Furthermore, the leaders discussed initiatives to strengthen defense and security, including the proposed Bank for Defense, Security, and Resilience (DSRB) to finance small and medium-sized enterprises in allied defense projects. The meeting also included discussions on fostering collaboration in artificial intelligence within the defense industry.