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Washington’s reward, introduced two years in the past, was adopted by a multimillion-dollar buy of two extra plane
The US delivered two Sikorski UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to Zagreb’s Franjo Tudman Airport. The plane have been donated to Croatia as a part of a army help program and arrived amid what some have described as an escalating arms race between Serbia and its neighbors.
Asserting the supply on Thursday, US Chargé d’Affaires Mark Fleming stated the Balkan nation “has earned a repute as a dedicated and succesful NATO Ally,” and that the cargo “will additional increase the capacities of the Croatian Armed Forces.”
The US Embassy in Zagreb estimated the worth of the {hardware} at round $54.8 million, saying it was a part of $685 million price of army help acquired by Croatia from Washington. Protection cooperation is the cornerstone of relations between the 2 nations, the diplomatic mission stated in a press release on Thursday’s supply.
The donation of the Sikorsky helicopters was introduced in 2019 and was adopted by Zagreb’s buy of two extra rotorcraft at an estimated value of $115 million. Senior Croatian protection officers visited the manufacturing amenities of the Lockheed Martin-owned firm final yr throughout an official go to to the US. Croatian pilots and floor crew acquired coaching in Minnesota to learn to function the US-made helicopters.
Croatia has been working for many years to interchange the stockpiles of Soviet-made weapons it saved after splitting from Yugoslavia, with these made by the US and different NATO members. Final yr, it bought 12 Rafale fighter jets from France, and in January it introduced an settlement to purchase 89 Bradley Combating Autos from the US. Croatia joined NATO in 2009.
Some media contrasted Zagreb’s alignment with Washington and Brussels to the place of Serbia, its opponent throughout the Nineties Croatian Struggle of Independence. Belgrade, which says it needs to develop into a member of the EU, depends on its conventional associate, Russia, and extra lately on China, for weapons procurement.
Final month, Serbia welcomed a cargo of Russian-made Kornet anti-tank missiles, which the president known as an “essential defensive device to discourage anybody from potential aggression towards our nation.”
Final yr, the nation bought superior Pantsir S1M air protection programs from Russia, on high of the six older variations it acquired in 2019. It additionally acquired a donation of 30 T-72MS tanks and 30 BRDM-2MS armored reconnaissance autos.
In 2020, Serbia bought CH-92A armed drones from China, spending an estimated $19.3 million.
Some observers say the weapons procurements quantity to a mini arms race within the Balkans, happening amid rising tensions between Russia and NATO.
Final month, Croatia grew to become snarled within the slow-burning battle after the president promised to not contain his nation’s troops in any potential Russia-NATO battle over Ukraine. His statements have been contradicted by the prime minister, which led to a public feud between senior officers over what advantages Croatia’s nationwide pursuits most.
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