Croatia - Security Policy

Strategic planning is a component of defence planning in the framework of which legislative and executive government bodies define, through documents of the highest level, the security and defence requirements of the Republic of Croatia as well as methods of ensuring security and defence requirements. Strategic planning documents are: the National Security Strategy, the Defence Strategy, the Military Strategy and the Strategic Review of the Status of Military Capabilities.

b) Developmental planning is a component of defence planning that, in the long-term and mid-term covers the building, development and maintenance of personnel and material defence capabilities. Development planning documents are: The CAF Long-term Development Plan that covers a period of 10 years and the MOD and CAF Mid-term Development Plan that covers a period of 6 years.

c) Operative planning is a component of defence planning that covers management of personnel and material resources, with an aim to realize strategic and development planning as fully and consistently as possible. Operative planning most directly ties the planning functions with programming and budget development. Operative planning documents are: Annual Military Priorities, Annual Defence Planning Guidance, The Armed Forces Plan, the Annual Report on the Readiness of the Defence System, the Conduct of Personnel Policy and the Overall State of the Armed Forces.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) is one of the fundamental documents that show the status of defence, assesses defence capabilities, identifies the need for adaptation, and determines future capabilities. It provides a basis for drafting a new set of laws in the field of defence systems and for the Long Term Development Plan.

The Croatian Ministry of Defence initiated a Strategic Defence Review (SDR) in autumn 2003, intended to guide the continued reforms of the Croatian Armed Forces (CAF) and its defence system as a whole. While working on Croatia’s Membership Action Plan (MAP) and producing Defence Policy 2003/04 and Defence Policy 2004/05, the MoD repeatedly indicated its intention of developing a strategic review. The intent was to conceptualize and direct defence reform efforts, thereby establishing a basic framework for the development of the Croatian Armed Forces Long Term Development Plan (CAF LTDP).

The SDR’s inter-agency approach is testimony of the Government’s determination to undertake comprehensive reforms that would enable Croatia’s national defence efforts to meet new challenges. A changing security environment, augmented role for the armed forces, new capability requirements, limited resources and Croatia’s future Euro-Atlantic obligations are just some of the important issues that compel a strong commitment to assess and reform its defence.

A threat and risk assessment indicates that a direct military threat to Croatia is highly unlikely, while non-traditional challenges — such as international terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), organised crime, illegal trafficking, disasters and environmental degradation — represent significantly growing security concerns. The likelihood of a conventional conflict — in which Croatia’s territory would be part of a larger battlefield or area of hostilities in the coming years — is very low. A likely aggressor that could potentially threaten Croatia’s security would do so with conventional means and is not expected to possess highly sophisticated military capabilities. Croatia is located in a region that has experienced armed conflict and political difficulties in the postcold war period. Despite a trend of gradual stabilization and the presence of international forces in the area, the emergence and spread of instability in the region is quite possible.

The existing CAF structure had been oriented towards developing and maintaining territorially-based self-defence capabilities. Croatia’s defence had been based on the concept of individual self-defence and primarily focused on the protection of national territory. This approach was seriously brought into question by changes in Croatia’s security environment and the Euro-Atlantic integration process, which would soon result in Croatia’s full membership in NATO and the EU. Likewise, it was difficult for any country to ignore the benefits of emerging technologies and conceptual innovations stemming from the revolution in military affairs. A reduced budget had seriously challenged the effectiveness of the current approach to defence and questioned the very need to maintain such a defence in wake of Croatia’s NATO and EU aspirations.

Several important decisions resulted from the SDR process as consensus was achieved at the highest political level. For example, the President, the Prime Minister and the President of the Parliament agreed on the need to further downsize Croatia’s armed forces, abanoning a previously planned 76,000 strong “B” reserve force. Initial SDR findings also revoked support for several defence projects that did not seem to contribute to the development of required military capabilities. Likewise, the SDR enabled defence officials to accelerate efforts to abandon obsolete weapons and military equipment.

A consistent national and strategic objective was to join NATO and the EU. The Programme of the Government of the Republic of Croatia for the 2003- 2007 Mandate re-emphasized Croatia’s national objective to achieve full NATO and EU membership. It also outlined a series of objectives which include: improving Croatia’s international standing and security situation; developing peace and stability in the region; and continuing with social, economic and defence reforms. Particular emphasis was placed on increasing the effectiveness of security and defence mechanisms, including the armed forces. Croatia’s multiregional territorial configuration consequently produced a variety of geographic challenges, such as safeguarding its interests in the Adriatic Sea.

The first Strategic Defence Review was adopted in 2005 and since then it had not been changed. Croatia became a NATO member and participates in the common defence. The SDR states that Croatia is not faced now or in the foreseeable future with any threat of direct armed aggression on its territory. Asymmetric, unconventional threats are the most direct threat to national security and safety of Croatia and its allies. The major efforts of the defence system are the safety and effectiveness of Armed Forces in operations and missions, full integration into NATO and the EU, development of necessary and affordable capabilities and defence cooperation with the countries of the region.

In the presence of Defence Minister Ante Kotromanovic, Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Drago Lovric and representatives of the Parliamentary Committee for Defence, media representatives were given a presentation on the new Strategic Defence Review (SDR) on 15 March 2012.