On this day 33 years ago, January 15, 1992, the Republic of Croatia became an internationally recognized state. Exactly six years later, on January 15, 1998, the peaceful reintegration of the occupied Croatian Danube region was completed, returning it to Croatia's constitutional and legal order.

Today, Croatia commemorates 33 years since its international recognition, a pivotal moment that solidified its status as a sovereign state on the global stage. On January 15, 1992, all twelve member states of the then-European Community recognized Croatia. Germany, along with the Vatican, played a crucial role in this process, establishing diplomatic relations with Croatia.

On the same day, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Hungary, Malta, Norway, Poland, and Switzerland also recognized Croatia. Slovenia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Latvia, Iceland, Estonia, the Holy See, and San Marino had already done so earlier. By the end of January 1992, a total of 44 countries had recognized Croatia, with more following in the subsequent months.

The Path to Recognition

International recognition followed Croatia’s declaration of independence on June 25, 1991, when both Croatia and Slovenia severed ties with the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and mutually recognized each other. Lithuania was the first country to recognize Croatia on July 30, 1991, despite not yet being internationally recognized itself. Iceland is remembered as the first internationally recognized country to extend recognition to Croatia, on December 19, 1991. That same day, Germany announced that its recognition would take effect on January 15, 1992, alongside the other EU member states.

The Vatican announced its recognition of Croatia on December 20, 1991, formalizing it on January 13, 1992. Vatican diplomacy had been at the forefront of international efforts to recognize Croatia since October 1991. Historians often highlight the pivotal roles of the Vatican and Iceland in championing Croatia's right to independence.