Continued strengthening of cooperation with the United States

From 1 to 3 December 2025, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman visited Washington, D.C., where he held a series of meetings aimed at further strengthening the strategic partnership between the Republic of Croatia and the United States of America.
 
Grlić Radman met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy James P. Danly, during which the strategic role of Croatia’s LNG terminal on the island of Krk and the JANAF pipeline system in enhancing European and broader transatlantic energy security was underscored. The discussions also highlighted the potential of the Southern Interconnection as a strategic project of the Republic of Croatia, the United States, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
 
In his meeting with Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the minister discussed further deepening cooperation in the fields of energy, defence, digital innovation, and the development of artificial intelligence.
 
The minister also attended the “Energy Diplomacy Reception: Expanding US Energy Partnerships with Croatia and the Three Seas Initiative,” organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in the United States. On this occasion, he emphasized that “together we are shaping a future in which Europe is not only a partner, but a strong, independent ally in preserving global stability,” noting that Croatia, through the Three Seas Initiative, has positioned itself as a strategic hub for energy diversification and regional resilience in Central and South-Eastern Europe.
 
During meetings on Capitol Hill, opportunities for further strengthening energy and security projects and deepening bilateral cooperation at all levels were reviewed.
 
In discussions with Senator Ted Budd and Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Brian Mast, the growing role of Croatia as Europe’s energy and security hub was highlighted. Talks also addressed the ratification of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, security cooperation, and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with confirmation of the need to ensure genuine equality among the three constituent peoples.
 
Grlić Radman also met with Jarrod Agen, Executive Director of the Council for Energy Dominance, focusing on enhancing energy connectivity and security in South-Eastern Europe. With John Jovanović, Executive Director of the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM), discussions centered on investment and trade within the framework of the Three Seas Initiative. In this context, the importance of progress on the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Croatia’s accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) was reviewed with U.S. trade advisor Jeff Goettman.
 
The minister also met with leading experts from the Heritage Foundation, with whom he discussed issues of security, defence, energy, and the situation in the Western Balkans - especially Bosnia and Herzegovina - and the necessity of ensuring the equality of Croats and the three constituent peoples.
 
This visit represents a continuation of Croatia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen transatlantic relations, reinforce Europe’s security and energy resilience, and further deepen its strategic partnership with the United States.

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