Historian: Croatia's Statehood Day Under HDZ Rule Lacks Historical Context

Prominent Croatian historian Tvrtko Jakovina reflects on the complex relationship between Croatia and its past, particularly around significant anniversaries in May and June. He notes how these dates often become points of contention in political and social discourse. Jakovina draws a parallel between the US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's D-Day anniversary speech, which compared the allied invasion of Europe to a migrant "invasion," and historical Nazi rhetoric. He expresses personal associations with June 6th, recalling a D-Day commemoration in Split where foreign ambassadors were present but no Croatian state officials attended. This absence of official representation at events honoring World War II allies, Jakovina argues, signifies a changed atmosphere in Croatia. He observes that the United States itself is increasingly distancing itself from its traditional allies, a trend he believes Croatia is now mirroring.