Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has responded to recent comments by Croatian Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar, criticizing the way Croatian officials have described Serbia and its military strength. Vučić said he found it particularly interesting when Croatian politicians spoke about what they described as Serbian “cowardice” while presenting their own country as courageous. At the same time, he said he did not want to label Croats as either brave or cowardly, arguing that ordinary people in both countries are essentially the same. His comments come amid renewed political tensions between Belgrade and Zagreb over military development, regional security and the relationship between Croatia, Albania and Kosovo.
Vučić also returned to the conflicts of the 1990s and specifically discussed Croatia’s military operation Storm, known as Oluja. He argued that Croatia had significant logistical support from Western countries at the time, while Serbia, according to his account, did not receive similar support from Russia. Vučić used this argument to challenge the idea that the outcome of the conflict should be presented as evidence of Croatian military superiority and Serbian weakness. He described such an interpretation as a form of “black humor,” while also saying that he did not want to participate in what he sees as attempts to portray one nation as heroic and the other as cowardly.
Another major part of Vučić’s comments concerned the growing defense cooperation between Croatia, Albania and Kosovo. The Serbian president said Belgrade views the cooperation as a serious security concern and has responded by strengthening Serbia’s own military capabilities. He insisted that Serbia’s goal is deterrence rather than preparing for war, but said the country would continue investing in its armed forces so that it could protect itself from any potential threat. Vučić also criticized Croatia’s purchases of military equipment, including German PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers and Kiowa Warrior helicopters equipped with Hellfire missiles, arguing that Serbia was not consulted about those acquisitions.
The latest exchange highlights how historical disputes and current security concerns continue to influence relations between Serbia and Croatia. While Vučić said Serbia wants peace and does not seek conflict, he also made clear that Belgrade intends to continue strengthening its military and responding politically and diplomatically to developments in the region. He said Serbia would continue pursuing its own interests while watching the military cooperation of neighboring countries closely. With both Croatia and Serbia increasing their defense capabilities and regional alliances becoming more prominent, the latest statements show that political tensions between the two countries remain an important issue across the Balkans.
