Croatian and American special forces recently completed two months of intensive joint training exercises across Udbina and the waters near Split. Focused on improving interoperability, sharing expertise, and conducting advanced operations such as VBSS missions and underwater navigation, this collaboration strengthens Croatia’s military capabilities. With shifting global priorities, questions arise about the future of such vital NATO-aligned partnerships.
Joint Training Exercises in Udbina
Only once it had concluded, as is customary in the military, was it announced that Croatian and American special forces had spent a full two months during March and April conducting joint exercises in the area around Udbina and at sea near Split.
The purpose of the training, which involved members of our Special Forces Command and a team from the United States Armed Forces special units, was, as the Croatian Ministry of Defence briefly reported on Thursday, the exchange of experience and integration of allied units, as well as the enhancement of interoperability.
Extensive Training Activities
“This year, the activity included parachute jumps onto land and water surfaces, situational and instinctive live-fire exercises in both daytime and nighttime conditions, and the exchange of experiences and procedures during mechanical, ballistic, and explosive breaching,” the statement said.
It was further explained that in the final weeks of the exercise, specialisation training took place, including operations for forcibly boarding ships (VBSS) using RHIB boats (rigid-hulled inflatable boats), combat diving, and procedures for seizing coastal areas and conducting underwater navigation.
High Level of Professionalism
“Cooperation was carried out at a very high professional level, and support for this activity was provided by members of the Croatian Navy and Croatian Air Force,” the public statement concluded.
The phrasing that “this year” these activities took place reveals that similar exercises had been held in previous years. We will not dig through the archives now to determine what those past activities were, but it is an open secret that, for some reason, the Americans with their troops were particularly fond of coming to Udbina, a place located roughly halfway between Plitvice Lakes and Gospić.
Udbina: A Strategic Location
For those unfamiliar, there is a Croatian military airbase there with a rather long runway, surrounded by barracks and training grounds. Part of it is visible from the main road which used to be driven along when travelling past Udbina to the coast, but certainly, the main part is not.
This exercise was clearly agreed upon earlier, evidently part of a plan arranged a number of years ago, and what now concerns everyone, considering the apparent shifts in American policy towards Europe—and thus Croatia—is how much longer these activities will continue.
Changing American Priorities
In other words, will there be such a change that it results in the cessation of these and similar exercises, in which Croatia participated as a NATO ally and reliable partner, as the Americans used to say, and one with recent wartime experience?
Of course, no one can predict this at present, but judging by current signals coming from across the Atlantic, it could very well happen. Not because anyone in the White House holds anything against Croatia, but because the main interest of American policy is evidently shifting to the Indo-Pacific region, while Europe is being sidelined.
Potential Impact on Croatia
If that occurs, it will be a major loss for Croatia. It is precisely through cooperation with the United States, particularly over the past decade, that Croatia first became energy independent thanks to the LNG terminal for liquefied gas in Omišalj on the island of Krk.
The Americans pushed for it, but it was financed by the European Union and Croatia, which contributed slightly more than half, and in the end, this terminal allowed Croatia not only to survive the suspension of Russian gas supplies without any issues but also to become an energy hub for this part of Europe.
Modernisation of Armed Forces
In addition, through cooperation with the United States, Croatia has gradually, step by step, modernised its Armed Forces, shifting almost completely from Russian weaponry to Western systems. This occurred with the help of certain donations from the American side.
Thus, Croatia acquired the most modern Kiowa Warrior and Black Hawk helicopters, recently agreed on the delivery of long-range HIMARS systems, and undertook the modernisation of Bradley fighting vehicles, partly through donations but largely through its own investment—vehicles which have proven highly effective on the Ukrainian battlefield.
Strategic Defence Decisions
Moreover, perhaps thanks to the Americans who opposed the idea, instead of acquiring used Israeli F-16 Barak fighters—old machines over 30 years of age that experienced Croatian pilots described as worn out—Croatia procured French multirole Rafale jets, which, although second-hand, are in very good condition, with an average age of 5 to 6 years.
Ultimately, it may have been a wise decision not to purchase the American F-16 alternative, as it is a fighter that requires additional technical support such as AWACS aircraft to operate effectively, whereas the Rafale is capable of fulfilling those roles independently. If the Americans were to leave, such support would no longer be available in times of need.
A Strong Bond with the Croatian Coast
It must also be said that the US Armed Forces felt at home in Croatia. It was no coincidence that before or after military exercises in the Mediterranean with allies—including Croatians—they would take a short break precisely along the Croatian coast.
The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman, for example, anchored off Split for several days just before certain activities related to the onset of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Additionally, many are unaware that Croatia possesses a shipyard capable not only of repairing but also of upgrading American warships.
The Americans praised the sophistication and expertise of Croatian engineers and other specialists who managed to respond effectively to the challenges they faced.
Looking Ahead
When you also consider what Croatian soldiers—whether special forces or others—gained through joint training with their American counterparts, perhaps the most valuable aspect of all, it would be a real shame for it all to end now.
One can only hope it will not. But if it does happen, Croatia will have to seek its military alliances and partnerships elsewhere within NATO, this time with European partners and under entirely different circumstances.
Until now, the Americans have acted as a shield covering most security challenges, but that situation could now be changing. However, we must wait and see.
Perhaps, following some of the recent sudden decisions from Washington—which were later revised—something similar might occur with the US relationship towards Europe, and therefore Croatia. Perhaps next year the Croatian Ministry of Defence will once again issue a brief statement about joint exercises between Croatian and American special forces. Naturally, they would start, as they did this time, from Udbina.