British News Agency

Plenkovic stated that the forum, attended by over 300 participants from approximately 50 countries, was hosted by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and brought together around shared values such as freedom, democracy, the rule of law, responsibility and the market economy.

He emphasized that in a period of increasing global uncertainty, relations between Europe and the United States should be maintained on the basis of trust, responsibility and mutual respect.

Plenkovic noted that the concept of security is no longer limited solely to the military dimension, but should also include economic, technological and social elements.

He stated that Croatia has exceeded its NATO commitments in defense spending, with the share allocated to defense reaching 2.08% of GDP as of 2025, and that modernization efforts are ongoing.

Emphasizing that demography is a central issue for Europe’s future, Plenkovic added that this topic was also prominent at the meeting of leaders of the European People’s Party (EPP).