Croatia is currently not buying weapons directly from Israel, the Croatian Ministry of Defense said in response to President Zoran Milanovic's call for the government to stop trading in weapons and military equipment with Israel, the HINA agency reported, quoted by BTA.
The ministry clarified that the Spike anti-tank missiles, which are in the process of being delivered, are of Israeli origin, but are obtained through the German company Eurospike, which produces the missiles under license.
In addition, the army uses Orbiter drones and a limited number of remotely controlled weapon stations mounted on Patria combat vehicles. The ministry stressed that a possible suspension of purchases from Israel would not affect the country's military capability, as the main supplies come from European and American partners.
“The equipment of Israeli origin that we currently have is not of key importance for national defense and can be replaced with European components,“ the ministry's official position says.
On Saturday, President Zoran Milanovic called for an immediate cessation of all arms deals with the current Israeli government. The presidential institution announced that back in May, he ordered the armed forces to end all forms of military cooperation with the Israeli army.
However, the Ministry of Defense stated that there is no current or planned military cooperation with Israel.
Meanwhile, the Slovenian government became the first in Europe to officially ban the export, import and transit of weapons to and from Israel.
Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman announced that the country is considering temporarily suspending some of its cooperation with Israel as part of a political signal. This would affect joint projects within the “Horizon Europe“ program, the EU's main instrument for science and research funding.
The European Commission has recommended partially limiting Israel's participation in the program due to alleged violations of human rights and humanitarian law in the Gaza Strip.