Minister Grlić Radman attends NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Helsingborg

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman participated in the meeting of NATO foreign ministers held on 22 May 2026 in Helsingborg, Sweden. The meeting focused on current security challenges and preparations for the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara.

The ministers agreed that further strengthening collective defence remains a priority and the foundation of the Alliance. In this context, Grlić Radman emphasized that Croatia had already reached the target of allocating 2% of GDP to defence spending last year and is well on track to fulfil the pledge of allocating 5% of GDP by 2035.

Special attention was devoted to long-term support for Ukraine, and the ministers were joined by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who briefed them on the current situation. Grlić Radman stressed that Croatia, drawing on its own experience of aggression, has been assisting Ukraine in various ways, ranging from military aid to demining, psychosocial support, energy assistance, and other forms of development aid.

As part of the discussion on global threats, he pointed to the security challenges in the neighbouring Western Balkans, an area of strategic importance for NATO.

In light of the recent conflicts in the Middle East and instability in the Southern Neighbourhood, the ministers reaffirmed the importance of NATO's 360-degree approach, ensuring the monitoring of and response to threats regardless of where they originate. In this regard, the importance of cooperation with partners in the Persian Gulf was highlighted in light of Iranian attacks, while Croatia, as a Central European and Mediterranean ally, supported the initiative to include Gulf partners in the upcoming summit in Ankara.

The meeting also underscored the importance of NATO-EU cooperation in achieving the goal of "a stronger Europe within a stronger NATO." Croatia advocates for Alliance unity, a strong transatlantic bond, and a stronger Europe within a stronger NATO.

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