The foreign relations of Croatia is primarily formulated and executed via its government which guides the state's interactions with other nations, their citizens, and foreign organizations. Active in global affairs since the 9th century, modern Croatian diplomacy is considered to have formed following their independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. As an independent state, Croatia established diplomatic relations with most world nations – 189 states in total – during the 1990s, starting with Germany (1991) and ending most recently with Liberia (2024). Croatia has friendly relations with most of its neighboring countries, namely Slovenia, Hungary, and Montenegro. They maintain colder, more tense relations with Serbia as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina due to historic nation-building conflict and differing political ideologies.
Croatia is seen as a stabilizing influence in Southeast Europe due to its political alignment with the Western world. It maintains strong relations with the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union (E.U.), joining the organization in 2013. Croatia is a military ally to the U.S., U.K., and E.U. through its membership in NATO, having joined in 2009. The economy of Croatia is one of the largest in Southeast Europe with $80.1 billion in nominal gross domestic product (GDP). The country receives foreign aid from the IMF and USAID.
Their foreign policy objectives have shifted since the Croatian War of Independence. During the 1990s, Croatia sought to gain international recognition and join the United Nations (2000), later seeking entry into NATO (2009) and the European Union (2013). Modern policy objectives are regional stabilization, influence in international organizations, and strengthening multilateral cooperation. Succession issues following the 1991-92 dissolution of Yugoslavia continue to complicate regional relations. Croatia has outstanding border disputes, sovereign ownership issues, and treaty disagreements with multiple neighbors.
Croatia is a member of the United Nations (UN), the Council of Europe, the World Trade Organization (WTO), Union for the Mediterranean and a number of other international organizations. The Council of Europe has been led by Croatian diplomat Marija Pejčinović Burić since 2019.
The first native Croatian ruler recognised by the Pope was duke Branimir, who received papal recognition from Pope John VIII on 7 June 879. [1] Tomislav was the first king of Croatia, noted as such in a letter of Pope John X in 925. Maritime Republic of Ragusa (1358–1808) maintained widespread diplomatic relations with the Ottoman Empire, Republic of Venice, Papal States and other states. Diplomatic relations of the Republic of Ragusa are often perceived as a historical inspiration for the contemporary Croatian diplomacy. [2] During the Wars of the Holy League Ragusa avoided alignment with either side in the conflict rejecting Venetian calls to join the Holy League. [2]
Antun Mihanović, author of the anthem of Croatia, spent over 20 years as a consul of the Austrian Empire in Belgrade (Principality of Serbia), Bucharest (Wallachia) and Istanbul (Ottoman Empire) starting in 1836. [3] The Yugoslav Committee, political interest group formed by South Slavs from Austria-Hungary during World War I, petitioned Allies of World War I and participated in international events such as the Congress of Oppressed Nationalities of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Association for the Promotion of the League of Nations Values was active in Zagreb in the interwar period organizing lectures by Albert Thomas, Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson and Ludwig Quidde. [4] During World War II, the Axis puppet state known as the Independent State of Croatia maintained diplomatic relations with several different countries in Europe.
While each constitution of Yugoslavia defined foreign affairs as a federal level issue, over the years Yugoslav constituent republics played increasingly prominent role in either defining this policy or pursuing their own initiatives. Number of diplomats from Croatia gained significant experience in the service to the prominent Cold War era Yugoslav diplomacy. [5]
In June 1943 Vladimir Velebit became the point of contact for foreign military missions in their dealings with the Yugoslav Partisans. Ivan Šubašić (1944–1945), Josip Smodlaka (NKOJ: 1943–1945), Josip Vrhovec (1978–1982) and Budimir Lončar (1987–1991) led the federal level Ministry of Foreign Affairs while numerous Croatian diplomats served in Yugoslav embassies or multilateral organizations. In 1956 Brijuni archipelago in People's Republic of Croatia hosted the Brioni Meeting, one of the major early initiatives leading to the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement. [6] [7] Between 1960 and 1967 Vladimir Velebit was executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. During the Croatian Spring Croatian economist Hrvoje Šošić argued for the separate admission of the Socialist Republic of Croatia into the United Nations similar to the membership of Ukrainian and Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic which led to his imprisonment. [8] In 1978, Croatia together with SR Slovenia joined the newly established Alps-Adriatic Working Group. The breakup of Yugoslavia led to mass transfers of experts from federal institutions enabling post-Yugoslav states to establish their own diplomatic bodies primarily by employing former Yugoslav cadres. [9] The 2001 Agreement on Succession Issues of the Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia formally assigned to Croatia a portion of the diplomatic and consular properties of the previous federation. [10]
On 17 December 1991 the European Economic Community adopted the "Common Position for the recognition of the Yugoslav Republics" requesting the Yugoslav republics wishing to gain recognition to accept provisions of international law protecting human rights as well as national minorities rights in hope that credible guarantees may prevent incentives for violent confrontations. [11] [12] Later that month Croatian Parliament introduced the Constitutional Act on the Rights of National Minorities in the Republic of Croatia opening the way for 15 January 1992 collective recognition by the Community. Croatia maintained some links beyond the Euro-Atlantic world via its observer status in the Non-Aligned Movement which it enjoyed already at the 10th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Jakarta, Indonesia. [13]
Following the international recognition of Croatia in 1992 the country was faced with the Croatian War of Independence between 1992 and 1995. A significant part of the country was outside of the control of the central government with the declaration of self-proclaimed unrecognized Republic of Serbian Krajina. In 1992 signing of the Sarajevo Agreement led to the cease-fire to allow UNPROFOR deployment in the country. Diplomatic efforts led to unsuccessful proposals which included the Daruvar Agreement and Z-4 Plan. In 1995 UNCRO mission took over the UNPROFOR mandate yet soon after Operation Storm led to a decisive victory for the Croatian Army with only the Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia remaining initially as a rump territory of Krajina. A diplomatic solution that avoided conflict in Eastern Slavonia was reached on 12 November 1995 via the signing of the Erdut Agreement with significant support and facilitation from the international community (primarily the United States, and with United Nations and various European actors). [14] [15] Temporary UNTAES administration over the region opened the way for the signing of the Dayton Agreement which ended the Bosnian War. It also led to the signing of 1996 Agreement on Normalization of Relations between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Croatia. [16]
With the resolution of some of the major bilateral issues arising from the Yugoslav Wars Croatian foreign policy has focused on greater Euro-Atlantic integration, mainly entering the European Union and NATO. The progress was nevertheless slow in the period between 1996 and 1999 with rising concerns over authoritarian tendencies in the country. In order to gain access to European and trans-Atlantic institutions, it has had to undo many negative effects of the breakup of Yugoslavia and the war that ensued, and improve and maintain good relations with its neighbours. Croatia has had an uneven record in these areas between 1996 and 1999 during the right-wing HDZ government, inhibiting its relations with the European Union and the United States. In 1997 United States diplomacy even called upon its European partners to suspend Croatia from the Council of Europe as long as country fails to show adequate respect for human and minority rights. [17] Lack of improvement in these areas severely hindered the advance of Croatia's prospects for further Euro-Atlantic integration. Progress in the areas of Dayton, Erdut, and refugee returns were evident in 1998, but progress was slow and required intensive international engagement. Croatia's unsatisfactory performance implementing broader democratic reforms in 1998 raised questions about the ruling party's commitment to basic democratic principles and norms. Areas of concern included restrictions on freedom of speech, one-party control of public TV and radio, repression of independent media, unfair electoral regulations, a judiciary that is not fully independent, and lack of human and civil rights protection.
With the 1999 death of President Franjo Tuđman, 2000 Croatian parliamentary election as well as corresponding regional changes such as the Overthrow of Slobodan Milošević, the European Union organized the 2000 Zagreb and 2003 Thessaloniki Summits in which European integration perspective was discussed for all the countries in the region. [18] The new SDP-led centre-left coalition government slowly relinquished control over public media companies and did not interfere with freedom of speech and independent media, though it did not complete the process of making Croatian Radiotelevision independent. Judiciary reforms remained a pending issue as well. The government's foreign relations were severely affected by the hesitance and stalling of the extradition of Croatian general Janko Bobetko to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), and inability to take general Ante Gotovina into custody for questioning by the Court. Nevertheless, Croatia managed to enter NATO's Partnership for Peace Programme in May 2000, World Trade Organization in July 2000, signing a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU in October 2001, Membership Action Plan in May 2002, and joined the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) in December 2002. The EU membership application was the last major international undertaking of the Račan government, which submitted a 7,000-page report in reply to the questionnaire by the European Commission. Negotiations were initiated with the achievement of the full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal in October 2005. Croatian president Stjepan Mesić participated in the NAM conferences in Havana in 2006 and Sharm el-Sheikh in 2009 using the country's post-Yugoslav link with the Third World in its successful campaign for the Eastern European Spot at the United Nations Security Council in 2008–2009 (in open competition with Czech Republic which was a member state both of EU and NATO). [19] [20]
Refugee returns accelerated since 1999, reached a peak in 2000, but then slightly decreased in 2001 and 2002. The OSCE Mission to Croatia, focusing on the governed by the UNTAES, continued to monitor human rights and the return of refugees until December 2007 with the OSCE office in Zagreb finally closing in 2012. [21] [22] Croatian Serbs continue to have problems with restitution of property and acceptance to the reconstruction assistance programmes. Combined with lacking economic opportunities in the rural areas of former Krajina, the return process was only partial.
At the time of Croatia's application to the European Union, three EU members states were yet to ratify the Stabilization and Association Agreement: United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Italy. The new Sanader government elected in 2003 elections repeated the assurances that Croatia will fulfill the missing political obligations, and expedited the extradition of several ICTY inductees. The European Commission replied to the answers of the questionnaire sent to Croatia on 20 April 2004 with a positive opinion. The country was finally accepted as EU candidate in July 2004. Italy and United Kingdom ratified the Stabilization and Association Agreement shortly thereafter, while the ten EU member states that were admitted to membership that year ratified it all together at a 2004 European Summit. In December 2004, the EU leaders announced that accession negotiations with Croatia would start on 17 March 2005 provided that Croatian government cooperates fully with the ICTY. The main issue, the flight of general Gotovina, however, remained unsolved and despite the agreement on an accession negotiation framework, the negotiations did not begin in March 2005. On 4 October 2005 Croatia finally received green light for accession negotiations after the Chief Prosecutor of the ICTY Carla Del Ponte officially stated that Croatia is fully cooperating with the Tribunal. This has been the main condition demanded by EU foreign ministers for accession negotiations. The ICTY called upon other southern European states to follow Croatia's good example. Thanks to the consistent position of Austria during the meeting of EU foreign ministers, a long period of instability and the questioning of the determination of the Croatian government to extradite alleged war criminals has ended successfully. Croatian Prime minister Ivo Sanader declared that full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal will continue. The accession process was also complicated by the insistence of Slovenia, an EU member state, that the two countries' border issues be dealt with prior to Croatia's accession to the EU.
Croatia finished accession negotiations on 30 June 2011, and on 9 December 2011, signed the Treaty of Accession. [23] A referendum on EU accession was held in Croatia on 22 January 2012, with 66% of participants voting in favour of joining the Union. [24] [25] [26] [27] The ratification process was concluded on 21 June 2013, and entry into force and accession of Croatia to the EU took place on 1 July 2013. [28]
The main objective of the Croatian foreign policy is positioning within the EU institutions and in the region, cooperation with NATO partners and strengthening multilateral and bilateral cooperation. [29]
Government officials in charge of foreign policy include the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, currently Gordan Grlić-Radman, and the President of the Republic, currently Zoran Milanović.
Croatia has established diplomatic relations with 189 countries around the world. As of 2009, Croatia maintains a network of 51 embassies, 24 consulates and eight permanent diplomatic missions abroad. Furthermore, there are 52 foreign embassies and 69 consulates in the Republic of Croatia in addition to offices of international organizations such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Organization for Migration, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), World Bank, World Health Organization, International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), United Nations Development Programme, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and UNICEF. [30]
Republic of Croatia participates in the following international organizations: CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU, FAO, G11, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, ITUC, NAM (observer [31] [32] ), NATO, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMOGIP, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
There exists a Permanent Representative of Croatia to the United Nations.
Croatia receives support from donor programs of:
Between 1991 and 2003, the EBRD had directly invested a total of 1,212,039,000 EUR into projects in Croatia.
In 1998, U.S. support to Croatia came through the Southeastern European Economic Development Program (SEED), whose funding in Croatia totaled $23.25 million. More than half of that money was used to fund programs encouraging sustainable returns of refugees and displaced persons. About one-third of the assistance was used for democratization efforts, and another 5% funded financial sector restructuring.
In 2003 USAID considered Croatia to be on a "glide path for graduation" along with Bulgaria. Its 2002/2003/2004 funding includes around $10 million for economic development, up to $5 million for the development of democratic institutions, about $5 million for the return of population affected by war and between 2 and 3 million dollars for the "mitigation of adverse social conditions and trends". A rising amount of funding is given to cross-cutting programs in anti-corruption, slightly under one million dollars.
The European Commission has proposed to assist Croatia's efforts to join the European Union with 245 million euros from PHARE, ISPA and SAPARD aid programs over the course of 2005 and 2006.
Relations with neighbouring states have normalized somewhat since the breakup of Yugoslavia. Work has begun — bilaterally and within the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe since 1999 — on political and economic cooperation in the region.
Discussions continue between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on various sections of the border, the longest border with another country for each of these countries. Sections of the Una river and villages at the base of Mount Plješevica are in Croatia, while some are in Bosnia, which causes an excessive number of border crossings on a single route and impedes any serious development in the region. The Zagreb-Bihać-Split railway line is still closed for major traffic due to this issue. The border on the Una river between Hrvatska Kostajnica on the northern, Croatian side of the river, and Bosanska Kostajnica on the southern, Bosnian side, is also being discussed. A river island between the two towns is under Croatian control, but is also claimed by Bosnia. A shared border crossing point has been built and has been functioning since 2003, and is used without hindrance by either party.
The Herzegovinian municipality of Neum in the south makes the southernmost part of Croatia an exclave and the two countries are negotiating special transit rules through Neum to compensate for that. Recently Croatia has opted to build a bridge to the Pelješac peninsula to connect the Croatian mainland with the exclave but Bosnia and Herzegovina has protested that the bridge will close its access to international waters (although Croatian territory and territorial waters surround Bosnian-Herzegovinian territory and waters completely) and has suggested that the bridge must be higher than 55 meters for free passage of all types of ships. Negotiations are still being held.
Croatia and Montenegro have a largely latent border dispute over the Prevlaka peninsula, and maintain friendly relations.
The border between Croatia and Serbia in the area of the Danube is disputed while at the same time the issue is not considered of the highest priority for either country in their bilateral relations. [33] The issue therefore only occasionally entered into in the public debate with other open issues being higher on the agenda, yet with some commentators fearing that the issue may once be used as an asymmetric pressure tool in the accession of Serbia to the European Union. [34] [35] While Serbia holds the opinion that the thalweg of the Danube valley and the centerline of the river represents the international border between the two countries, Croatia disagrees and claims that the international border lies along the boundaries of the cadastral municipalities located along the river—departing from the course at several points along a 140-kilometre (87 mi) section. [35] The cadastre-based boundary reflects the course of the Danube which existed in the 19th century, before meandering and hydrotechnical engineering works altered its course. The area size of the territory in dispute is reported variously, up to 140 square kilometres (54 square miles) and is uninhabited area of forests and islands. [35] Croatian and Serbian authorities have made only occasional attempts to resolve the issue with the establishment of a joint commission that rarely met and the 2018 statement by presidents of the two countries that the issue will be brought to international arbitration if agreement is not reached until 2020. [35]
Croatia and Slovenia have several land and maritime boundary disputes, mainly in the Gulf of Piran, regarding Slovenian access to international waters, a small number of pockets of land on the right-hand side of the river Dragonja, and around the Sveta Gera peak. The two states contested the sovereign ownership of Yugoslav bank Ljubljanska banka, which ended in Slovenia's favor. The status of Croatian depositors' savings in the bank remains an outstanding issue. Slovenia was disputing Croatia's claim to establish the Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone, an economic section of the Adriatic.
List of countries which Croatia maintains diplomatic relations with:
# | Country | Date [36] |
---|---|---|
1 | Germany | 15 January 1992 |
2 | Austria | 15 January 1992 |
3 | Italy | 17 January 1992 |
4 | Hungary | 18 January 1992 |
5 | Sweden | 29 January 1992 |
6 | Switzerland | 30 January 1992 |
7 | Denmark | 1 February 1992 |
8 | Portugal | 3 February 1992 |
9 | Liechtenstein | 4 February 1992 |
10 | Slovenia | 6 February 1992 |
— | Holy See | 8 February 1992 |
11 | Netherlands | 11 February 1992 |
12 | Australia | 13 February 1992 |
13 | Latvia | 14 February 1992 |
14 | Ukraine | 18 February 1992 |
15 | Finland | 19 February 1992 |
16 | Norway | 20 February 1992 |
17 | New Zealand | 25 February 1992 |
18 | Estonia | 2 March 1992 |
19 | Spain | 9 March 1992 |
20 | Belgium | 10 March 1992 |
21 | Paraguay | 13 March 1992 |
22 | Lithuania | 18 March 1992 |
23 | North Macedonia | 30 March 1992 |
24 | Poland | 11 April 1992 |
25 | Argentina | 13 April 1992 |
26 | Chile | 15 April 1992 |
27 | Iran | 18 April 1992 |
28 | France | 24 April 1992 |
29 | Luxembourg | 29 April 1992 |
30 | Malaysia | 4 May 1992 |
31 | Czech Republic | 11 May 1992 [37] |
32 | China | 13 May 1992 |
33 | Russia | 25 May 1992 |
34 | United Arab Emirates | 23 June 1992 |
35 | United Kingdom | 24 June 1992 |
36 | Morocco | 26 June 1992 |
37 | Iceland | 30 June 1992 |
38 | Malta | 30 June 1992 |
39 | India | 9 July 1992 |
40 | Sudan | 17 July 1992 |
41 | Greece | 20 July 1992 |
42 | Moldova | 20 July 1992 |
43 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 21 July 1992 |
44 | United States | 11 August 1992 |
45 | Bulgaria | 13 August 1992 |
46 | Albania | 25 August 1992 |
47 | Turkey | 26 August 1992 |
48 | Romania | 29 August 1992 |
49 | Indonesia | 3 September 1992 |
50 | Thailand | 9 September 1992 |
51 | Cuba | 23 September 1992 |
52 | Belarus | 25 September 1992 |
53 | Egypt | 1 October 1992 |
54 | Algeria | 15 October 1992 |
55 | Kazakhstan | 20 October 1992 |
56 | South Korea | 18 November 1992 |
57 | South Africa | 19 November 1992 |
58 | Singapore | 23 November 1992 |
59 | Bolivia | 26 November 1992 |
60 | North Korea | 30 November 1992 |
61 | Qatar | 5 December 1992 |
62 | Mexico | 6 December 1992 |
63 | Guatemala | 22 December 1992 |
– | Sovereign Military Order of Malta | 22 December 1992 [38] |
64 | Brazil | 23 December 1992 |
65 | Slovakia | 1 January 1993 |
66 | Nigeria | 7 January 1993 |
67 | Peru | 12 January 1993 |
68 | Yemen | 17 January 1993 |
69 | Bahrain | 18 January 1993 |
70 | Tunisia | 18 January 1993 |
71 | Georgia | 1 February 1993 |
72 | Cyprus | 4 February 1993 |
73 | Venezuela | 8 February 1993 |
74 | San Marino | 11 February 1993 |
75 | Ghana | 17 February 1993 |
76 | Philippines | 25 February 1993 |
77 | Japan | 5 March 1993 |
78 | Mongolia | 10 March 1993 |
79 | Canada | 14 April 1993 |
80 | Uruguay | 4 May 1993 |
81 | São Tomé and Príncipe | 23 May 1993 |
82 | Tanzania | 2 July 1993 |
83 | Samoa | 8 March 1994 |
84 | Jordan | 29 June 1994 |
85 | Vietnam | 1 July 1994 |
86 | Pakistan | 20 July 1994 |
87 | Cape Verde | 19 August 1994 |
88 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 7 October 1994 |
89 | Kuwait | 8 October 1994 |
90 | Angola | 16 November 1994 |
91 | Lebanon | 5 December 1994 |
92 | Azerbaijan | 26 January 1995 |
93 | Ireland | 27 January 1995 |
94 | Uzbekistan | 6 February 1995 |
95 | Colombia | 25 April 1995 |
96 | Andorra | 28 April 1995 |
97 | Burkina Faso | 18 May 1995 |
98 | Saudi Arabia | 8 June 1995 |
99 | Zambia | 20 September 1995 |
100 | Ethiopia | 17 October 1995 |
101 | Ivory Coast | 17 October 1995 |
102 | Costa Rica | 19 October 1995 |
103 | Guinea-Bissau | 19 October 1995 |
104 | Afghanistan | 3 January 1996 |
105 | Belize | 23 January 1996 |
106 | Ecuador | 22 February 1996 |
107 | Laos | 4 March 1996 |
108 | Nicaragua | 29 March 1996 |
109 | Panama | 12 June 1996 |
110 | Turkmenistan | 2 July 1996 |
111 | Armenia | 8 July 1996 |
112 | Mozambique | 23 August 1996 |
113 | Serbia | 9 September 1996 |
114 | Cambodia | 10 September 1996 |
115 | Jamaica | 9 October 1996 |
116 | Kyrgyzstan | 23 December 1996 |
117 | Sri Lanka | 14 February 1997 |
118 | Maldives | 8 April 1997 |
119 | Oman | 30 June 1997 |
120 | Barbados | 11 July 1997 |
121 | Fiji | 14 July 1997 |
122 | El Salvador | 24 July 1997 |
123 | Syria | 29 August 1997 |
124 | Mauritius | 3 September 1997 |
125 | Israel | 4 September 1997 |
126 | Seychelles | 30 September 1997 |
127 | Senegal | 1 October 1997 |
128 | Papua New Guinea | 5 December 1997 |
129 | Guinea | 8 December 1997 |
130 | Saint Lucia | 10 December 1997 |
131 | Suriname | 17 December 1997 |
132 | Bangladesh | 18 December 1997 |
133 | Nepal | 6 February 1998 |
134 | Brunei | 1 May 1998 |
135 | Namibia | 22 June 1998 |
136 | Gambia | 16 October 1998 |
137 | Lesotho | 6 November 1998 |
138 | Malawi | 13 November 1998 |
139 | Zimbabwe | 12 February 1999 |
140 | Uganda | 10 March 1999 |
141 | Tajikistan | 1 April 1999 |
142 | Eritrea | 4 June 1999 |
143 | Antigua and Barbuda | 15 June 1999 |
144 | Comoros | 29 June 1999 |
145 | Myanmar | 3 September 1999 |
146 | Chad | 17 September 1999 |
147 | Honduras | 20 September 1999 |
148 | Federated States of Micronesia | 29 September 1999 |
149 | Haiti | 15 October 1999 |
150 | Libya | 30 March 2000 |
151 | Vanuatu | 18 April 2000 |
152 | Grenada | 19 May 2000 |
153 | Nauru | 4 December 2000 |
154 | Dominican Republic | 5 February 2001 |
155 | Benin | 26 March 2001 |
156 | Mali | 13 September 2001 |
157 | Gabon | 22 October 2001 |
158 | Cameroon | 18 October 2002 |
159 | East Timor | 5 February 2003 |
160 | Guyana | 25 February 2003 |
161 | Sierra Leone | 23 July 2003 |
162 | Mauritania | 24 November 2004 |
163 | Kenya | 1 December 2004 |
164 | Iraq | 4 January 2005 |
165 | Botswana | 9 September 2005 |
166 | Montenegro | 7 July 2006 |
167 | Madagascar | 27 September 2006 |
168 | Republic of the Congo | 10 May 2007 |
169 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 18 October 2007 |
170 | Equatorial Guinea | 19 October 2007 |
171 | Monaco | 14 December 2007 |
– | Kosovo | 30 June 2008 |
172 | Trinidad and Tobago | 14 December 2011 |
173 | Solomon Islands | 18 April 2012 |
174 | Dominica | 30 April 2013 |
175 | Palau | 26 September 2015 |
176 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 27 May 2016 |
177 | Kiribati | 26 August 2016 |
178 | Bahamas | 31 January 2017 |
179 | Djibouti | 22 May 2017 |
180 | Rwanda | 15 February 2018 |
181 | Eswatini | 5 April 2019 |
182 | Marshall Islands | 24 September 2019 |
183 | Tuvalu | 2 November 2020 |
184 | Burundi | 14 May 2021 |
185 | South Sudan | 16 November 2021 |
186 | Somalia | 4 February 2022 |
187 | Central African Republic | 18 September 2023 |
188 | Togo | 18 September 2023 |
189 | Liberia | 26 September 2024 |
Organization | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
European Union | See 2013 enlargement of the European Union Croatia joined the European Union as a full member on 1 July 2013. | |
NATO | See Croatia–NATO relations Croatia joined NATO as a full member on 1 April 2009. |
Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Algeria | 15 October 1992 | |
Angola | 16 November 1994 | |
Benin | 26 March 2001 | |
Botswana | 9 September 2005 | Diplomatic relations between Botswana and Croatia were established on 9 September 2005. [45] [46] |
Burkina Faso | 18 May 1995 | |
Cape Verde | 13 August 1994 |
|
Central African Republic | September 18, 2023 |
|
Chad | 17 September 1999 |
|
Comoros | 29 June 1999 |
|
Côte d'Ivoire | 17 October 1995 | |
Djibouti | 25 May 2017 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 May 2017. [48] [49] |
Egypt | 1 October 1992 |
|
Eritrea | 4 June 1999 |
|
Ethiopia | 17 October 1995 |
|
Gabon | 22 October 2001 |
|
Gambia | 16 October 1998 | |
Ghana | 17 February 1993 | |
Guinea-Bissau | 19 October 1995 |
|
Kenya | 22 May 1992 | |
Lesotho | 6 November 1998 | |
Liberia | 26 September 2024 |
|
Libya | 30 March 2000 | |
Madagascar | 27 September 2006 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 September 2006. [52] [53] |
Malawi | 13 October 1998 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 November 1998. [52] [54] |
Mali | 20 September 1995 | |
Mauritania | 11 November 2004 |
|
Mauritius | 3 September 1997 |
|
Morocco | 26 June 1992 | |
Mozambique | 23 August 1996 |
|
Namibia | 22 June 1998 | Diplomatic relations between Croatia and Namibia were established on 22 June 1998. [45] [46] |
Niger | N/A | Croatia does not maintain diplomatic relations with Niger. |
Nigeria | 7 January 1993 | |
São Tomé and Príncipe | 23 May 1993 |
|
Senegal | 1 October 1997 |
|
Seychelles | 30 September 1997 |
|
South Africa | 19 November 1992 | |
Sudan | 17 July 1992 | |
Tanzania | 2 July 1993 | |
Togo | 20 December 1993 |
|
Tunisia | 30 January 1993 | |
Uganda | 10 March 1999 |
|
Zambia | 20 September 1995 | |
Zimbabwe | 12 February 1999 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on February 12, 1999. [48] [60] |
Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Antigua and Barbuda | 20 September 1999 | |
Argentina | 13 April 1992 | See Argentina–Croatia relations
|
Bahamas | 31 January 2017 | |
Belize | 23 January 1996 | |
Bolivia | 26 November 1992 |
|
Brazil | 23 December 1992 | |
Canada | 14 April 1993 |
|
Chile | 15 April 1992 | See Chile–Croatia relations
|
Colombia | 25 April 1995 | |
Costa Rica | 19 October 1995 | |
Cuba | 23 September 1992 |
|
Dominica | 2013 [68] | |
Ecuador | 22 February 1996 | |
El Salvador | 24 July 1997 |
|
Grenada | 19 May 2000 |
|
Guatemala | 22 December 1992 |
|
Guyana | 25 February 2003 |
|
Honduras | 20 September 1999 |
|
Jamaica | 9 October 1996 | |
Mexico | 6 December 1992 | See Croatia–Mexico relations
|
Nicaragua | 29 March 1996 | |
Panama | 12 June 1996 |
|
Paraguay | 13 March 1992 |
|
Peru | 12 January 1993 | |
Saint Lucia | 10 December 1997 |
|
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 7 October 1994 |
|
Suriname | 17 December 1997 | |
Trinidad and Tobago | 14 December 2011 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 December 2011. [77] [78] |
United States of America | 11 August 1992 | See Croatia–United States relations
|
Uruguay | 4 May 1993 | See Croats in Uruguay
|
Venezuela | 9 October 1992 |
Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Afghanistan | 3 January 1996 |
|
Armenia | 8 July 1994 | See Armenia–Croatia relations
|
Azerbaijan | 26 January 1995 | See Azerbaijan–Croatia relations
|
Bahrain | 18 January 1993 |
|
Bhutan | N/A | Croatia does not maintain diplomatic relations with Bhutan. |
Cambodia | 10 September 1996 |
|
China (People's Republic) | 13 May 1992 |
|
Georgia | 1 February 1993 | See Croatia–Georgia relations |
India | 9 July 1992 | |
Indonesia | 3 September 1992 | |
Iran | 18 April 1992 | See Croatia–Iran relations |
Iraq | 4 January 2005 | |
Israel | 4 September 1997 | See Croatia–Israel relations
|
Japan | 5 March 1993 | |
Jordan | 29 June 1994 | |
Kazakhstan | 20 October 1992 |
|
Kuwait | 10 August 1994 |
|
Kyrgyzstan | 23 December 1996 | |
Laos | 4 March 1996 |
|
Lebanon | 5 December 1994 | |
Malaysia | 4 May 1992 |
|
Maldives | 8 April 1997 |
|
Mongolia | 10 March 1993 |
|
Myanmar | 3 September 1999 | |
Nepal | 6 February 1998 | |
North Korea | 30 November 1992 | |
Pakistan | 20 July 1994 |
|
Philippines | 25 February 1993 | |
Qatar | 5 December 1992 | See Croatia–Qatar relations |
Saudi Arabia | 8 June 1995 | See Croatia–Saudi Arabia relations |
Singapore | 23 November 1992 |
|
South Korea | 18 November 1992 | See Croatia–South Korea relations The Establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Croatia and the South Korea began on 18 November 1992.
|
Sri Lanka | 14 February 1997 | |
Syria | 29 August 1997 |
|
Taiwan | N/A | Croatia does not maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. |
Tajikistan | 1 April 1999 |
|
Thailand | 9 September 1992 | |
Timor-Leste | 5 February 2003 |
|
Turkey | 26 August 1992 |
|
Turkmenistan | 2 July 1996 | See Croatia–Turkmenistan relations
|
United Arab Emirates | 23 June 1992 | |
Uzbekistan | 6 February 1995 | |
Vietnam | 1 July 1994 |
|
Yemen | 17 January 1993 |
Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Albania | 25 August 1992 | See Albania–Croatia relations |
Andorra | 28 April 1995 | |
Austria | 15 January 1992 | See Austria–Croatia relations
|
Belarus | 25 September 1992 | See Belarus–Croatia relations
|
Belgium | 10 March 1992 | See Belgium–Croatia relations |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 21 July 1992 | See Bosnia and Herzegovina–Croatia relations
|
Bulgaria | 13 August 1992 | See Bulgaria–Croatia relations |
Cyprus | 4 February 1993 |
|
Czech Republic | 1 January 1993 | See Croatia–Czech Republic relations
|
Denmark | 1 February 1992 |
|
Estonia | 2 March 1992 | |
Finland | 19 February 1992 | |
France | 24 April 1992 |
|
Germany | 15 January 1992 |
|
Greece | 20 July 1992 |
|
Holy See | 8 February 1992 | See Croatia–Holy See relations
|
Hungary | 18 January 1992 |
|
Iceland | 30 June 1992 |
|
Ireland | 27 January 1995 |
|
Italy | 17 January 1992 |
|
Kosovo | 30 June 2008 | |
Latvia | 14 February 1992 |
|
Liechtenstein | 4 February 1992 |
|
Lithuania | 18 March 1992 | See Croatia–Lithuania relations
|
Luxembourg | 29 April 1992 | |
Malta | 30 June 1992 | |
Moldova | 28 July 1992 | |
Monaco | 14 December 2007 | |
Montenegro | 7 July 2006 | See Croatia–Montenegro relations
|
Netherlands | 23 April 1992 | See Croatia–Netherlands relations |
North Macedonia | 30 March 1992 | See Croatia–North Macedonia relations
|
Norway | 20 February 1992 | |
Poland | 11 April 1992 |
|
Portugal | 3 February 1992 | |
Romania | 29 August 1992 |
|
Russia | 25 May 1992 |
|
San Marino | 11 February 1993 |
|
Serbia | 9 September 1996 then as FR Yugoslavia and including Montenegro | See Croatia–Serbia relations
|
Slovakia | 1 January 1993 | See Croatia–Slovakia relations
|
Slovenia | 6 February 1992 | See Croatia–Slovenia relations
|
Sovereign Military Order of Malta | 22 December 1992 |
|
Spain | 9 March 1992 | See Croatia–Spain relations
|
Sweden | 29 January 1992 | See Croatia–Sweden relations
|
Switzerland | 30 January 1992 | |
Turkey | 26 August 1992 |
|
Ukraine | 18 February 1992 | |
United Kingdom | 24 June 1992 | See Croatia–United Kingdom relations
|
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Australia | 13 February 1992 |
|
Fiji | 14 June 1997 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 July 1997. [52] [174] |
Nauru | 14 December 2000 | |
New Zealand | 25 February 1992 |
|
Tonga | N/A | Croatia does not maintain diplomatic relations with Tonga. |
Samoa | 8 March 1994 |
|
Tuvalu | 2 November 2020 | |
Vanuatu | 18 April 2000 |
Croatian passport is issued to citizens of the Republic of Croatia for the purpose of international travel. The passport has the purpose of serving as proof of Croatian citizenship and identity. Responsibility for their issuance lies with the Ministry of the Interior; and for citizens abroad, passports are issued by the local embassy or consulate. Croatian passports are valid for ten or five years, and are not renewable. Every Croatian citizen is also a citizen of the European Union. The passport, along with the national identity card allows for free rights of movement and residence in any of the states of the European Economic Area and Switzerland.
The foreign, diplomatic, economic, and political relations between Croatia and the United States were established on April 7, 1992 following the dissolution of Yugoslavia. After Croatia's debut as an independent state in 1996, the U.S. established the country as its most important political connection to Southeast Europe. Modern relations are considered to be warm and friendly, with stalwart bilateral collaboration. The Croatian diaspora in the U.S. is estimated to be around 500,000 which, in part, informs the foreign policy of Croatia. The two nations have strong connectivity through tourism, immigration, foreign aid, and economic mutualism. U.S. President George W. Bush approved the NATO membership of Albania and Croatia in October 2008. Croatia and the U.S. are close military allies and share a robust bilateral military-industrial complex. Their closeness has led to the U.S. housing regional intelligence agencies, such as the CIA and NSA, in Croatia. Both are members of NATO, leveraging Croatia's aerospace and defense manufacturing and U.S. military operations to advance multilateral initiatives. After the 2022 Tu-141 drone crash in Zagreb, the U.S. dispatched two F-16 fighter jets in a show of military strength for Croatia. U.S. interests in Croatia are centered on the state's stabilizing influence in the region and extending the global reach of jointly-held Western ideals.
Croatia–Romania relations are the foreign relations between Croatia and Romania. Both nations are members of the European Union and NATO. Both countries established relations on 29 August 1992.
Croatia–Ukraine relations are foreign relations between Croatia and Ukraine. The countries established diplomatic relations on 18 February 1992. Croatia has an embassy in Kyiv and an honorary consulate in Donetsk. Ukraine has an embassy in Zagreb and honorary consulates in Malinska and Split. Croatia supports Ukraine's European Union and NATO membership.
Egypt recognized newly independent Croatia on 16 April 1992 and the two countries established diplomatic relations on 1 October 1992. Egypt has an embassy in Zagreb. Croatia has an embassy in Cairo and an honorary consulate in Alexandria. Croatia's Cairo embassy also officially handles the countries of Bahrain, Ethiopia, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan and the UAE, as well as Djibouti, Eritrea and Iraq in certain matters. Both countries are members of the Union for the Mediterranean.
Croatia–Kosovo relations refer to the bilateral relations of Croatia and Kosovo. Diplomatic relations among two countries were established on 30 June 2008, following Kosovo's declaration of independence. Croatia has an embassy in Pristina, and Kosovo has one in Zagreb. Both countries were part of Yugoslavia from 1918 to 1991. Relations between the two countries are described as very good and friendly.
Bulgaria and Croatia established diplomatic relations on August 13, 1992. Bulgaria has had an embassy in Zagreb since 1994. Croatia has had an embassy in Sofia since 1992. Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO.
The foreign relations between Albania and Croatia are bound together by shared history, neighboring geography and common political ideologies. Both states established diplomatic relations in 1992, following the dissolution of Yugoslavia and the independence of Croatia. They have historically shared a special relationship due to their convergent nation-building efforts. Modern relations are warm and friendly.
The foreign relations between Croatia and Italy are commenced in 1992, following the dissolution of Yugoslavia and the independence of Croatia. Relations are warm and friendly with robust bilateral collaboration. The two nations have strong connectivity through tourism, immigration, foreign aid, and economic mutualism.
Croatia and India officially established diplomatic relations on 9 July 1992 following Croatia's independence from SFR Yugoslavia.
A bilateral relationship exists between Croatia and Austria. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on January 15, 1992, following Croatia's independence from SFR Yugoslavia.
Full diplomatic relations between Croatia and Israel were established on April 9, 1997 following Croatia's independence from SFR Yugoslavia. Croatia has an embassy in Tel Aviv and honorary consulates in Ashdod, Caesarea, Jerusalem and Kfar Shmaryahu. Israel has an embassy in Zagreb. Relations between the two countries are described as friendly and highly cooperative. In recent years, Croatia and Israel have intensified bilateral relations and defence and security cooperation. Croatia is one of the countries Israel occasionally turns to inside the EU to advocate on its behalf and it generally abstains or votes with Israel on key EU votes at the UN. Israeli president Reuven Rivlin described Croatia in 2019 as "Israel's strong ally in the EU, the UN and other multilateral organizations."
The foreign relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Croatia are bound together by shared history, language, neighboring geography and cultural commonalties. They established diplomatic relations in 1992, following the dissolution of Yugoslavia and independence of Croatia. The two countries share a 932-kilometer (579 mi) border – the second longest external land border in the European Union (EU). Modern relations between the two states are functional but remain tense after ineffective 21st-century attempts at détente.
Croatia and Saudi Arabia established diplomatic relations on 18 June 1995. Croatia is represented in Saudi Arabia through its embassy in Cairo, Egypt. Saudi Arabia isn't represented in Croatia but citizens that need any assistance are advised to contact the Saudi Arabia embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
China and Croatia established diplomatic relations on May 13, 1992. Croatia has an embassy in Beijing and a general consulate in Hong Kong. China has an embassy and a Confucius Institute in Zagreb.
Croatia and Belarus established diplomatic relations on 22 September 1992. Though geographically not very close, Croatia and Belarus are both Slavic countries and thus share certain cultural and linguistic similarities.
Diplomatic relations between the republics of Croatia and Ireland were established on 27 January 1995 following Croatia's independence from SFR Yugoslavia. Ireland recognised Croatia as an independent state on 15 January 1992. Croatia is represented in Ireland through consulate and embassy in Dublin, while Ireland is represented in Croatia through its embassy and consulate in Zagreb. Both countries are full members of Council of Europe and of the European Union. In 2019, Croatian community in Ireland was around 20,000 people.
Andrea Bekić is a Croatian diplomat, current Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to The Swiss Confederation. Formerly, she was Croatian Ambassador to The Republic of Poland.
Croatia–North Macedonia relations are foreign relations between Croatia and North Macedonia. Two countries established diplomatic relations on 30 March 1992. Croatia is represented in North Macedonia via its embassy in Skopje and honorary consul in Strumica while North Macedonia is represented in Croatia via its embassy and the Cultural and Informational Center in Zagreb as well as consulate in Rijeka and honorary consul in Zadar. Croatia supports North Macedonia's European Union membership. Before their independence in early 1990s, both countries were constituent republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as the SR Croatia and SR Macedonia respectively. Croatia was one of the first countries in the world to recognize the independence of the country during the period in which Zagreb itself awaited international recognition. During the long-lasting Macedonia naming dispute (1991–2019) and before the signature of the Prespa agreement Croatia was the first country in the world to recognize North Macedonia under its constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia instead of appellation "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia". Today, both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, and of the NATO. Croatia is an EU member and North Macedonia is an EU candidate. Since 2006 North Macedonia is a member state of the Central European Free Trade Agreement while Croatia was a member of the area between 2003 and 2013. Croatia strongly supports accession of North Macedonia to the European Union and also supported its NATO membership, being one of the first countries to ratify the membership protocol. Trade between the two countries reached 221 million euros in 2020.
The Embassy of Croatia in Belgrade is the diplomatic mission of Croatia in the Serbia.
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: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Establishment of diplomatic relations: 04.01.2005.
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ignored (help)[ permanent dead link ]The diplomatic relations between Belarus and Croatia were established on September 25, 1992. There is no Belarusian Embassy to Croatia and there is no Embassy of Croatia to Belarus. The states maintain their bilateral relations through their embassies to Russia.[ permanent dead link ]