During a high-level European Political Community meeting in Budapest, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković commented on various international issues, including the recent U.S. election results and changes in Germany’s political landscape.

Plenković noted that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s absence was significant. “Chancellor Scholz did not attend, which sends a message,” he observed. “I’ve been attending these meetings for eight years, and this is the first time that Germany’s Chancellor has been absent.”

Addressing questions about the U.S. election and the potential return of former President Donald Trump, Plenković emphasized that Croatia already has experience working with the Trump administration. “We’ve collaborated before and look forward to strengthening ties. There’s no concern or fear regarding the outcome,” Plenković remarked.

He also addressed Trump’s stance on NATO, specifically Trump’s comments that NATO should not protect member states contributing less than 2% of their GDP to defense. Plenković responded confidently, pointing to Croatia’s robust defense investments. “If anyone is investing in defense, it’s us. Under my mandate, we’ve invested in planes, tanks, drones—virtually every segment. For us, this is not an issue,” he asserted.

Reflecting on Croatia’s ties with the U.S., Plenković highlighted recent achievements, such as securing visa-free travel for Croatian citizens. “We resolved the visa waiver issue, and our defense collaboration is at its highest level. I believe we’ve raised our bilateral relationship to an unprecedented level,” he stated.