Croatian President warns NATO on Serbia's armament, rules out Ukraine coalition role

Croatian President Zoran Milanović urged NATO allies to consider Serbia's intensive armament, describing the neighbor's behavior as "strange."

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Serbia is behaving strangely. I hope they don't acquire a wheeled aircraft carrier because they don't have a sea.

Speaking after a NATO summit in Ankara, Milanović emphasized Croatia's commitment to loyalty and fairness toward allies while firmly pursuing its own interests. He reiterated Croatia's non-participation in the "Coalition of the Willing" concerning Ukraine, stating the country has paid enough for others' disputes in the past.

Milanović specifically highlighted Serbia's acquisition of various military systems, questioning the necessity and threat assessment behind such purchases. "Serbia is behaving strangely. I hope they don't acquire a wheeled aircraft carrier because they don't have a sea," he remarked, adding that Croatia will need to respond with its own military equipment.

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Croatia's position is to be loyal and fair to NATO members, not to do anything behind their backs, which we are not doing, but to firmly watch the development of the situation and our interests.

The president also commented on the "Coalition of the Willing," which he described as an idea from French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that lacks clear form and certainty. He deemed the idea of Western presence in Ukraine after a potential peace agreement as dangerous and underdeveloped.

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That idea about Western presence in Ukraine after some peace agreement that will come is very dangerous, underdeveloped, and uncertain.

Milanović characterized former U.S. President Donald Trump's participation at the summit as the most "sincere," describing him as a determined arms dealer representing American interests. He noted that Trump spoke respectfully of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, similar to how they spoke of him, contrasting with other leaders' rhetoric.

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Trump comes here as a completely determined arms dealer and in that sense represents American interests.