Croatia celebrates key war victory with grand military parade

On Thursday, July 31, 2025, Croatia marked an important milestone in its history with a military parade in its capital city, Zagreb, celebrating 30 years since a pivotal victory in the Croatian War of Independence. This event commemorates Croatia's recapture of territories held by ethnic Serbs, which occurred during the Operation Storm in August 1995. The parade showcased Croatia's military advancement and included a flyover by French-made Rafale jets, as well as participation from 3,400 army personnel, police units, emergency services, and war veterans. Meanwhile, naval vessels paraded in the Adriatic Sea port of Split. Croatia's Prime Minister, Andrej Plenkovic, addressed the audience during the event, highlighting the nation's transition from Eastern to Western military technology. This transition is part of an effort to improve compatibility with NATO allies and enhance Croatia's defense capabilities. Amidst rising security concerns in Europe, particularly due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the parade demonstrated Croatia's commitment to modernizing its armed forces. The nation is among the eighteen EU countries seeking financial support from a new European defense fund, potentially amounting to 1.8 billion euros. The military parade also served a dual purpose, as it was seen as a way to foster national pride while sending a message of strength to neighboring countries, particularly Serbia. Historical tensions remain between Croatia and Serbia, stemming from the 1990s conflict and the exodus of ethnic Serbs from Croatia following the Operation Storm. Serbia has warned its citizens against traveling to Croatia in early August, anticipating heightened sensitivities around the anniversary of the offensive. The Serbian government also plans to hold a commemoration for Serb victims, indicating that the legacy of the conflict continues to impact relations in the region. Political analysts, such as Zarko Puhovski, interpreted the parade as a strategic display aimed at garnering public support for increased military spending amid Europe’s current security landscape. The event emphasized both military readiness and a broader trend of European militarization in response to perceived threats. It is evident that Croatia, having joined the EU in 2013 and NATO shortly before, is striving to align itself more closely with regional and global defense initiatives. As Croatia celebrates its past, the parade additionally reflects its forward-looking approach to defense in a changing geopolitical climate.