Croatian Parliament Speaker warns Serbia arming with offensive weapons

Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković issued a stark warning Tuesday, stating that Serbia is actively arming itself not only with defensive but also with offensive weaponry. He urged Croatia's Western allies to be fully aware of this military buildup.

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Serbia is arming itself not only with defensive weapons, but also with offensive, attacking ones. And that should be told to our Western allies. Not to shy away from it.

Speaking at a conference for Croatian ambassadors, consuls, and military attachés, Jandroković emphasized the changing international order and the necessity for Europe to bolster its security. He specifically called for strengthening NATO's European pillar, noting that Europe had grown complacent, relying too heavily on American security guarantees for decades.

"Croatia will continue to advocate for multilateralism, international law, and the international order, but it must be aware of the changes and have responses to them," Jandroković stated. He added that Croatia must clearly communicate the situation in the region to the West, as new political elites often lack understanding of the former Yugoslavia or the history of Slobodan Milošević's Greater Serbian policy and the state's disintegration.

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Croatia will continue to advocate for multilateralism, international law, and the international order, but it must be aware of the changes and have responses to them.

European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Marta Kos, also addressed the conference, highlighting that EU enlargement is once again serving as a geopolitical stabilizer. She noted 2026 as a record year for accession progress, with Montenegro potentially joining by 2028 and significant advancements in Ukraine and Moldova. However, Kos cautioned that the EU must learn from past enlargements and implement mechanisms to ensure new members uphold the rule of law and core values, suggesting more ambitious forms of gradual integration.

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Enlargement has today 'once again taken on the role of the European geopolitical stabilizer.'

Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlić Radman, framed the conference's goal as providing diplomatic representatives with guidance and facilitating an exchange of information and opinions based on their experiences. He underscored the significant shifts in the strategic environment over the past year, stating, "Nothing is the same anymore."

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Nothing is the same anymore.