- Published: 04.03.2023.
There is no doubt: By helping Ukraine, we defend our own security
“The security of Central and Eastern Europe is an integral part of the EU’s security architecture and of the broader rule-based international order. From the European perspective, opposing the Russian aggression includes supporting freedom and democracy in Ukraine on the one hand, and defending the European as well as the global security architecture on the other. The Russian aggression has resulted in numerous threats such as inflation and disruptions in energy and food supply. There is no doubt that by helping Ukraine we are defending our own security,” Grlić Radman underscored.
Adding that Croatia fully understood what an unprovoked aggression and the use of force meant, the minister said that Croatia had been helping Ukraine economically, diplomatically and by sharing its experience regarding war and post-war recovery, demining and confidence-building. “The importance of preserving democratic values in the EU's neighbourhood through the European integration process has never been clearer. The values that people in those societies strive for are a cornerstone of our common resilience,” he said.
Grlić Radman was also a guest on a podcast titled “The Three Seas Initiative at the Forefront of European Strategic Positioning”, where he stressed that 3SI had to respond timely to the current food and energy crisis, as well as provide an opportunity for the countries of South Asia to import goods via the Port of Rijeka to Central and Eastern Europe. “By strengthening EU’s cohesion and transatlantic ties, the 3SI countries have shown that economic growth and energy security is the backbone of EU’s resilience,” he underlined.
In addition, the minister held a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who visited Croatia in September last year. “Global circumstances have changed drastically since our last talks. I’m pleased to highlight Croatia’s perspective, as a Central European and Mediterranean EU member state that is dealing with the foreign policy situation in Europe and the world in a level-headed manner,” Grlić Radman said.
Croatia and India are continuing to strengthen political dialogue and interdepartmental cooperation. The two ministers signed a memorandum on defence cooperation, which should advance the two countries' cooperation, notably thanks to Croatia’s global recognizability in the area of military industry. They also discussed ways to strengthen the two countries’ economic ties, with Grlić Radman underscoring Croatia’s growing attractiveness as a member of the Schengen Area and the eurozone, as well as its favourable geographic position between Central and Southeast Europe.
The two ministers welcomed the perspective of strengthening EU-India relations and the additional possibilities of cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. “We see India as a key partner in the implementation of the EU’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. There are many similarities to India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), which means there’s an area of cooperation for the stability, security, prosperity and sustainable development of the region. Croatia recognizes the political, economic and historical differences of the Indo-Pacific countries, and it is therefore important to avoid further polarization of the region,” Grlić Radman said.