Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has announced that the country’s defence budget will be boosted, as the EU faces mounting pressure to ramp up its own military capabilities. 

Croatia currently spends more than 2% of its GDP on defence — above the Nato benchmark — with a growing share directed toward modernising its military. 

Plenkovic announced the plans to increase spending during a visit by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, who met Plenkovic in Zagreb to discuss the future of EU spending, security and support for Ukraine.

The Croatian prime minister pointed out that when he came to power in 2016, the country’s defence budget was around €540mn. "Our plan by 2027 is for that number to be five times higher," he said, as quoted in a government statement. That would mean an increase in spending to around €2.7bn. 

Plenkovic outlined ongoing upgrades: old MIG fighter jets are being replaced with French Rafales, Leopard tanks and HIMARS missile systems are on the way, and the navy is due for a revamp.

"We want to have a strong Croatian army in the changed strategic circumstances," said Plenkovic. 

"Croatia will continue on the path we are currently taking, so that everything we invest strengthens strategic autonomy at the European level, but gives us completely new capabilities that are interoperable with our Nato allies and partners in the European Union. 

The talks also touched on the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework, where both leaders stressed the need for a simpler, more focused budget aligned with strategic priorities. Metsola underlined that future EU spending must deliver results citizens actually feel, especially in areas like energy, trade, and digital infrastructure.

With the war ongoing in Ukraine, security dominated the conversation. Metsola called Croatia’s commitment to European integration "inspiring", while warning that Europe must act quickly or risk falling behind. “We either move forward together or lose ground,” she said.