Croatia’s Military Parade Masks Deeper Security Challenges Amid EU Defense Push

In Zagreb this past Thursday, Croatia staged a grand military parade commemorating three decades since Operation Storm, a defining victory in its bloody struggle for independence from the former Yugoslavia. The spectacle featured over 3,400 military personnel, police units, veterans, and an impressive flyover by French Rafale jets—symbols of Croatia’s ongoing transition toward Western military standards. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic highlighted this shift from Eastern to Western technology as essential for aligning with NATO allies. Yet beneath these patriotic displays lies an urgent question: Are these efforts truly enhancing Croatia’s—and by extension Europe’s—security in an increasingly volatile region shaped by...