U.S.- Adriatic Charter Military Leaders Meet to Reinforce Charter Commitments

The U.S. European Command and Croatian Armed Forces co-hosted the 24th U.S. – Adriatic Charter (A-5) Chiefs of Defense Conference Sept. 28 in Split, Croatia.

During the conference, military leaders from the A-5 Charter nations and observer states discussed common approaches to address collective security threats and challenges related to regional security and defense issues….

“We continue to cooperate and support each other, plan and initiate advanced participation in our missions, operations, activities and joint exercises in aim to develop interoperability and raise response readiness to future crisis,” said Admiral Robert Hranj, Chief of General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces. “Today’s conference, its conclusions and our joint statement once again prove our firm commitment to partnership in the interest of integration of South-Eastern European countries to NATO and EU.”

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The U.S. – Adriatic Charter was formed with the core task to enable nations in Southeast Europe to pursue, and ultimately, obtain, full NATO membership. Since its creation in 2003, four U.S. – Adriatic Charter nations have ascended into NATO with North Macedonia’s ascension, which occurred 2020, as the latest.

At this meeting, defense chiefs reaffirmed their support to the charter and expressed support for NATO’s Open Door policy vowing to support the aspirations of Southeast European countries to join the Alliance.