ZAGREB, July 11, 2018 – The cooperation between the Croatian Armed Forces and the Minnesota National Guard, which is part of a successful military cooperation between Croatia and the USA, has grown into a strategic partnership, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and the Commander of the Minnesota National Guard, General Jon Jensen, said in Zagreb on Tuesday.
Grabar-Kitarović received General Jensen for talks on cooperation in defence and security, her office said.
The United States is Croatia’s main partner in the field of defence, security and military cooperation, and Croatia has proven to be a committed and reliable partner, Grabar-Kitarović said.
The cooperation between the Croatian Armed Forces and the Minnesota National Guard has grown into a strategic partnership, and especially important is the Minnesota National Guard’s support to the Croatian army in building its defence capabilities for international peace operations as well as for humanitarian and search and rescue operations, and in developing its interoperability, it was said.
Defence Minister Damir Krstičević and the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Mirko Šundov, also met with General Jensen. Jensen had arrived for a five-day official visit to Croatia ahead of a visit by US Defence Secretary James Mattis.
Krstičević welcomed General Jensen and thanked him for his reception in Minnesota during his recent visit to the United States. Krstičević visited the Minnesota National Guard in May and met with Jensen. On that occasion, a flight on a US F-16 jet was arranged for the Croatian minister after the Croatian government decided to purchase this multi-purpose fighter aircraft.
“The United States of America is our most important partner in defence and security. I am glad that you have come to visit Croatia in this important week when US Defence Secretary James Mattis is coming to Zagreb, which is also a great honour to us,” Krstičević said.
Krstičević and Jensen expressed their satisfaction with excellent cooperation which had resulted in the joint participation of members of the Croatian Army and the Minnesota National Guard in Afghanistan and in other functional areas. They underscored their commitment to further advancing cooperation both at the bilateral level and as part of the US-Adriatic Charter with a view to assisting Croatia’s eastern neighbours on their path to NATO and EU membership.
Jensen stressed the importance of the partnership between the Minnesota National Guard and Croatia and announced assistance to the Croatian military in developing its capabilities so it would achieve its targets for 2020.
During his stay in Croatia, General Jensen is scheduled to visit the Pleso Airforce Base, the Croatian Army Command Centre in Karlovac, the Zemunik Airforce Base, and the Fleet Admiral Sveto Letica-Barba Barracks in Split, the statement said.
