Recently,  the Indian Prime Minister paid a maiden visit to Croatia as part of the last leg of his three-nation tour, which included Cyprus and Canada.

• PM Modi expressed gratitude for Croatia’s support following the Pahalgam terror attack, highlighting shared democratic values and commitment to combatting terrorism.

Key Outcomes of Visit

• Defence Cooperation Plan: Building upon the 2023 Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation, both agreed to; 
  • Joint military training.
  • Personnel exchanges.
  • Industry-level defence partnerships.
  • Extend cooperation in cybersecurity and defence production.
• Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs)
  • Signed on Agriculture, Cultural Exchange, Science & Technology.
  • Extension of the ICCR Chair of Hindi at the University of Zagreb till 2030
  • Launch of joint academic research programs and a five-year cultural exchange initiative to deepen people-to-people ties..
• Investment and Economic Cooperation
  • Commitment to enhance investments in key sectors: Pharmaceuticals, Agriculture, Information & Digital Technologies, Clean Technology, Semiconductors
  • Croatia was invited to participate in India’s Sagarmala Project, tapping into its maritime expertise.
• Academic and Cultural Exchange
  • Joint research projects between academic institutions.
  • Finalisation of a five-year cultural exchange program to boost people-to-people ties.
• Space and Technology Collaboration: India announced plans to share its space technology expertise with Croatia, opening avenues for cooperation in satellite systems and space applications.
• Enhanced Mobility and Diplomatic Engagement
  • Announcement of a forthcoming Mobility Agreement to facilitate travel, education, tourism, and business cooperation.
  • Establishment of a framework for regular high-level diplomatic consultations, institutionalising the momentum generated by the visit.

Various Facet of India-Crotia Relations

• Economic: 
• • Bilateral trade has shown consistent growth, rising from $199.45 million in 2017 to $337.68 million in 2023.
  • India exports: pharmaceuticals, chemicals, machinery, apparel, consumer goods.
  • Croatia exports: chemicals, precision instruments, timber, rubber, vegetable fats and oils.
  • Business ties supported by agreements such as the Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement (2001) and the India-Croatia Agreement on Economic Cooperation (2017).
  • The India-Croatia Startup Bridge (2021) fosters collaboration in AI, robotics, and green tech.
• Cultural: 
• • Croatia has a strong tradition of Indology, with Sanskrit studies flourishing since the 18th century.
  • Croatian scholar Ivan Filip Vezdin printed the first Sanskrit grammar book in 1790.
  • The Indology Department at the University of Zagreb is a longstanding centre for Indian studies.
  • Cultural heritage includes Croatian involvement in Indian architecture, like the Church of São Brás in Goa.
  • The rising popularity of yoga and Ayurveda strengthens contemporary cultural connections. 
• Diplomatic
• • India recognised Croatia’s independence in May 1992, with formal diplomatic relations established in July 1992.
  • Embassies opened in Zagreb (1995) and New Delhi (1996); relations were elevated to the ambassadorial level in 1998.
  • Croatia has consistently supported India’s global positions, including UNSC permanent membership.

Significance of Croatia For India

• Geostrategic Gateway to Europe: 
  • Croatia’s position on the Eastern Adriatic coast makes it a key maritime gateway to the EU.
  • Ports like Rijeka, Split, and Ploče are vital for the EU’s TEN-T transport network, offering direct access to Central and Eastern European markets.
  • A critical link in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), especially amid disruptions in the Suez Canal and Red Sea.
  • Croatia’s central position provides access to CEE markets.
  • Useful in bypassing overdependence on traditional EU entry points like Germany or France.
• Strategic Alternative to Chinese Influence:
  • Croatia’s limited participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and cautious stance on China position it as a favourable partner for India.
  • Strengthening India-Croatia ties contributes to New Delhi’s effort to provide a democratic, rule-based alternative to China’s growing footprint in the Balkans.
• Influence within EU and NATO  : Croatia’s full membership in both the European Union and NATO offers India:
  • Indirect access to EU regulatory and political processes.
  • An ally within European consensus-building mechanisms, especially valuable during India-EU FTA negotiations.
• Reliable multilateral partner: 
  • Croatia consistently supports India’s international stances, including non-interventionist policies on Jammu & Kashmir.
  • Offers reliability and predictability—a contrast to more complex postures of larger EU states.

DOWNLOAD PDF