Croatia's Military Parade Marks 30 Years of Key War Victory Amid EU Defense Goals

Thousands gathered in Croatia's capital, Zagreb, to witness a grand military parade marking the 30th anniversary of a pivotal war victory. This event comes as Croatia eyes a substantial loan from the European Union's new defense fund to enhance its military capabilities.

The highlight of the parade was a flyover by French Rafale jets, accompanied by appearances from 3,400 army personnel, police units, emergency services, and war veterans. Simultaneously, navy ships were on display at Split. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic announced Croatia's transition to Western military technology, fostering compatibility with allies in both the EU and NATO, which it joined in 2013 and 2009, respectively.

Relations remain tense with Serbia, which supported the ethnic Serb rebellion in the 1990s. With Serbia planning to commemorate Serb victims of the offensive, the parade also signals Croatia's commitment to increased defense spending amidst security concerns in Europe, particularly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Political analyst Zarko Puhovski suggested the event serves to rally public support for militarization, in line with EU efforts to bolster its defense capacity.

(With inputs from agencies.)