Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys agreed on Tuesday that defence investment is strategically important for the security of the entire European Union.
The officials, meeting during Budrys's official visit to Croatia, highlighted opportunities to further enhance cooperation in defence and the defence industry, and stressed the need to continue supporting Ukraine against Russia's invasion.
The meeting noted that Croatia and Lithuania maintain a "high-quality, partnership-based cooperation" within the EU, NATO and other international formats. The Three Seas Initiative, which will gather parliament leaders and strategic partners in Zagreb next week, was singled out as a key platform for collaboration.
Jandroković also expressed satisfaction at a nearly 25% increase in trade between the two countries last year and noted further potential for economic cooperation in the electrical, infrastructure, IT, pharmaceutical, food and wood industries, as well as tourism.