ZAGREB, July 14, 2018 – Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović on Friday received the visiting U.S. State Secretary of Defence James Mattis, and they agreed that the two countries had developed a strong friendship and alliance and successful defence cooperation that has reached the level of a strategic partnership, according to a press release issued by the President’s Office.
Grabar-Kitarović and Mattis discussed potential areas of cooperation that would reinforce bilateral ties, and in this context special emphasis was put on security and stability in southeast Europe. Croatia strongly supports its neighbours on their journey to the European and Euro-Atlantic integration processes, reads the press release.
They also considered the need for a stronger political presence and role of the US in southeast Europe.
During his stay in Zagreb, Mattis attended a Special US-Adriatic Charter Defence Ministerial Meeting.