Croatian President Zoran Milanović announced on Monday, February 23, 2026, that he had ordered the complete suspension of all cooperation between the Croatian Armed Forces (OSRH) and the Israeli Defense Forces, citing what he described as Israel's "unprecedented violation of all norms of international humanitarian law" in its military operations.
In a strongly worded statement posted on social media, Milanović revealed that he first issued the directive in May 2025, mandating the termination of any and all forms of military collaboration with Israel. The order applies across the entire Croatian military establishment. At the same time, he publicly urged the Croatian government to cease any trade in weapons or military equipment with Israel.
The president disclosed that he had recently conveyed this position directly to Prime Minister Andrej Plenković during a phone conversation, warning that "any form of military cooperation with Israel would be unacceptable." Milanović's statement came in direct response to an official visit to Israel that same day by Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anušić, who met with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and representatives from Israel's Directorate for International Defense Cooperation as well as defense industry companies.
As commander-in-chief of the OSRH, Milanović reiterated his firm stance: "The OSRH will not cooperate with the Israeli army in any way, now or in the future." He further declared that Croatian military personnel would not participate in the implementation of any existing or prospective agreements, contracts, or arrangements involving the Israeli army or Israeli defense industry. Such deals, he argued, "would therefore be unenforceable and harmful for Croatia."
Milanović called on the government—which holds constitutional responsibility for military procurement—to immediately halt all planned agreements or purchases of weapons and military equipment from Israel. He stressed that Croatia's national interests include maintaining close cooperation with NATO allies and developing domestic defense industry capabilities, either through direct production or participation in international supply chains.
In contrast, Defense Minister Anušić used his official X account to describe his Tel Aviv visit in positive terms. He reported holding discussions with Minister Katz on "strengthening bilateral cooperation at the level of the defense ministries" and deepening ties between the Croatian and Israeli defense industries. The talks centered on exchanging expertise and knowledge, particularly in advanced Israeli technologies.
Anušić specifically highlighted the Trophy Active Protection System, an Israeli-developed defensive technology integrated into the German Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks that Croatia is in the process of procuring. He thanked Katz for approving the export license for the Trophy system, which he said elevates the Leopard 2A8 to "one of the best tanks in the world." Anušić concluded by affirming that "there is great potential for cooperation with the Israeli industry, and the Ministry of Defense will continue to develop it for the benefit of our Armed Forces and Croatia’s security."
The public clash between the president and the government exposes deep divisions within Croatia's leadership over relations with Israel amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. Milanović, who has been a vocal critic of Israel's military campaign since October 2023, has repeatedly accused Israel of disproportionate force and violations of international humanitarian law. His May 2025 directive appears to have been largely symbolic or limited in practice until now, as evidenced by the continuation of high-level defense talks and procurement discussions.
The Leopard 2A8 acquisition—part of Croatia's broader effort to modernize its armored forces and meet NATO capability targets—relies heavily on the integration of the Trophy system for enhanced crew survivability against anti-tank guided missiles and rocket-propelled grenades. Blocking or delaying this component could significantly impact the program's timeline and effectiveness.
Croatia maintains diplomatic relations with Israel and has historically supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, public opinion in Croatia has grown increasingly critical of Israel's actions in Gaza, with protests and parliamentary debates reflecting broader European trends.
Prime Minister Plenković's office had not issued an immediate formal response to Milanović's statement as of late Monday. The government has previously emphasized that defense procurement decisions fall under its executive authority, while acknowledging the president's role as commander-in-chief.
The episode highlights the complex interplay of constitutional powers in Croatia, where the directly elected president serves as head of state and supreme commander of the armed forces, while the prime minister and government exercise day-to-day executive control, including foreign policy and defense acquisitions. Such public disagreements between the presidency and government are rare but not unprecedented during Milanović's tenure.
As the Gaza conflict continues into its fourth year—with over 72,000 Palestinian deaths reported by Gaza health authorities and ongoing international legal scrutiny—the Croatian president's move adds another layer of European diplomatic friction surrounding Israel's military operations and defense partnerships.
